By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, Feb. 19, GNA – Some residents of Tema Community One have raised concerns over the frequent spillage of liquid waste in their communities especially in the market, fearing a potential rise in cholera cases in the metropolis.
They complained the situation had deteriorated in recent months, with some areas experiencing overflowing gutters filled with human waste, thereby creating unbearable stench and the health risks posed by the constant leakage of faeces onto the streets and into open drains.
They added that there had not been any permanent solution to the challenge despite several complaints.
They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that there was a need for a complete change of the sewer system, insisting that temporary fixes were not enough.
“We cannot continue to react only when an outbreak occurs; preventive measures must be put in place to ensure proper sanitation and protect our health. Look at the number of cholera cases in the country; we need a complete overhaul of the sewer system, not just repairs,” Mr. Isaac Forson, a teacher, said.
Ms. Georgina Teye, a tomato seller, stated that “We are living in fear because the sewers keep spilling. This month, almost all the areas in Tema Community One had been spilled. In the market, when it spills, it affects business a lot because nobody will come and buy.”
She stated, “our only luck is that we are in the dry season, if the rain starts, the waste will spread all over, and children play and walk around, and we cannot always stop them from coming into contact with the dirty water.”
Mr. Kwabena Mensah, a shoe dealer, said, “The authorities have not been proactive.
How can sewer lines that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not upgrade till now? The temporal measures will not help because the population of Tema continues to grow.”
“Normally when it spills, you must buy a face mask and wear it because you cannot breathe, and now that cholera cases are high and the government is trying to reduce the cases, see what is happening. The authorities must take sanitation seriously before it turns into a disaster.”
Mr. Ofori Laryea, Sewer Manager, Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), acknowledged the problem and said the Waste Management Department was working to repair damaged pipelines and unclog blocked drainage systems.
He, however, urged the residents to refrain from dumping solid waste into gutters and sewers, as such actions contribute to severe blockages, particularly during the rainy seasons.
The GNA observed that the sewer lines and chambers have been overflowing and gushing out liquid waste in the Community One Business Area for days despite efforts by the department to contain the situation.
The faeces running through the market has left many vendors with no option other than to close their shops, while others resort to using nose masks and pouring antiseptic around the place, they sell to avoid the stench and prevent the invasion of houseflies.
GNA