By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, Feb. 24, GNA – Some business owners in Tema Community One have resumed full operations following the successful repair of blocked and overflowing sewer lines that had disrupted commercial activities in the central business area, especially the Community One market.
The sanitation issue, which affected parts of Tema Community One, including Casino, Centre, near the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), and the market, among others, posing health and environmental risks, has now been resolved, restoring cleanliness to the area.
For so many days, traders and business owners in the affected areas said they experienced a decline in customer traffic due to the unpleasant conditions caused by overflowing sewage.
They said the situation did not only discourage patronage but also raised concerns about outbreaks of communicable diseases, however, after an intervention by the Metro Waste Management Department, the problem has been addressed, bringing relief to residents and businesses.
A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the area revealed that areas that had hitherto had faeces gushing out from sewer chambers had been repaired, and the streets, walkways, and market areas were cleaned, with no traces of the spillage.
Local traders, shop owners, and residents have expressed their satisfaction with the repair works and have called on the authorities to provide a lasting solution to the community’s ageing sewer system.
They said the system had undergone many temporary repairs, which did not address the long-term challenges of the sewer issue, adding that the sewer system, constructed during the era of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was no longer suitable for the city’s growing population.
They said the outdated sewer lines frequently caused flooding, blockages, and sanitation problems in Tema and therefore needed to be changed as soon as possible, expressing the fear that, without a comprehensive upgrade, the system would continue to fail, leading to health risks and environmental pollution.
“This system was built when Tema had fewer people; now, with more people living and working here, the pipes and drains cannot handle the waste; we need a complete overhaul, not just temporary fixes,” Kwame Yeboah, a teacher, said.
“Every time there is a blockage, we suffer from bad smells and dirty water flowing through the market; sometimes we stop coming to sell for more than a week. This one that has been repaired will not last for more than three months,” he added.
He added that “there are times about 15 shops get closed when this particular one spoils; people will not buy anything, and because nobody will give you money to cure yourself when you get sick, you endure and stay home.”
Nana Ama Koranteng, a student nurse, said that “this aging sewer system could be a major health risk; if waste is not effectively managed, it can contaminate water sources and cause outbreaks of disease. The authorities must take this issue seriously.”
Mr. Joseph Boateng, a lace materials seller, stated “The government should prioritise this issue because it affects our daily lives; as Tema continues to expand, there’s the need for improved infrastructure to suit the current demand.”
GNA