The Interim Guinea Current Commission, an umbrella body under UNIDO, which deals in large eco-systems, has pledged to provide US$ 7 million as funding for the rehabilitation of the only treatment plant and the three pumping stations in the metropolis.
The project, when completed, will help solve the perennial break down or spillage of sewerage systems, which have become a source of worry to many residents in the Tema Metropolis.
This was disclosed by Mr. Edward Gonaboya Mba, head of the Waste Management Department of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), in an interaction with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Kwesi Oppong Fosu, during a working tour of the area.
According to the waste management expert, given the circumstance, the Assembly needed to take a look at the various technological options available to it, in terms of management.
“Waste management is capable of converting the materials into compost, and that element is yet to be done,” Mr. Mba explained.
He continued: “There is the need to have a critical look at the possibility of increasing the organic manure. This is faecal matter from partly decomposed onsite facility, which may contain some significant amount of gases, considered a closed system. It is possible that we can be able to harvest biogas.”
Mr. Mba hinted that in the course of removing the sludge, some items, believed to be plastics and rubber, were trapped in the pipe, and in the process the operators had to take apart some of the interconnections of the pipes.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister to give them some time to enable his staff to work on it.
Addressing the media, the Local Government and Rural Development Minister stated; “It is my responsibility to update your management on general waste (both solid and liquid), and to explore ways of having more effective management systems.”
“Waste is a resource, but at the same time, poses health hazards to human environments,” he noted, adding “We are seeking ways on technical cooperation with other partners who have advanced in effective waste management processes.”
He, however, promised to meet the authorities and service providers to know their challenges, and also provide technical assistance to help restructure the treatment plant in due time.
Some of the places the Minister and his entourage toured include the Kpone refuse landfill, Tema Community Three and Nungua pumping stations.