Illegal dumping sites at Odaw River to be removed – Sanitation and Water Resources Minister

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has intensified inspection checks on the banks of the Odaw River to remove illegal dumping sites.

Being undertaken in collaboration with the Municipal Assemblies along the river, the exercise is primarily aimed at preventing collected waste from being washed into the river basin and prompt evacuation and collected waste.

During an inspection tour along the Odaw River bank in Accra yesterday, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah tasked the assemblies to ensure that their compartment trucks were always on hand to collect the waste.

She reminded the assemblies of their prosecuting powers, especially in the area of sanitation, to generate funds while promoting sanitation and deter others from dumping waste at unauthorised locations.

“We will not tolerate any excuses in the performance of your responsibilities. The power has been given you, from the Municipal Chief Executive to the Unit Committee level, you all have the power to deal with issues of sanitation.

“We expect that this duty is effectively carried out to protect the river from further pollution,” she added.

In the meantime, she directed the assemblies to also clear all heaps of waste that could be washed into the river before the rainy season set in.

The Minister expressed her satisfaction with the recycling of collected waste at Agbobloshie by some young persons of the area.

“I am particularly impressed with the innovative recycling the youth are doing here. I support all forms of recycling that provides jobs to young people. I want to see it done in a healthy manner without the hazardous elements,” Madam Dapaah stated.

She said, all efforts including the swift passage of sanitation bye-laws, investments in bins, among others, were directed at achieving the objective of making Accra one of the cleanest cities within the West Africa sub -region.

So far, over 8,000 bins, she noted, have been distributed to the various assemblies as part of measures to stop the heaping of refuse at unauthorised points.

Also, more than 44,000 toilet facilities have been provided through the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) project to enable households have access to decent water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

In an earlier interaction with traders at Madina market, the Minister called on the traders to strictly observe personal hygiene to help nip in the bud the outbreak of cholera and dysentery.

MsTheodore AdomakoAdjei, Head of Extension Services, Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) further reminded the traders of their critical role in society and urged them to practice safe hygiene of foods for sale and keep their area of operation clean to avoid food poisoning and contamination.

BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS