The campaign against filth and ensuring proper means of waste disposal seems to be falling on deaf ears.
ENVIRONMENT TODAY, can authoritatively report that haphazard dumping of waste in our surroundings is virtually becoming the order of the day.
During the team’s visit to Tema New Town over the weekend, what was observed was nothing to write home about.
The situation indicates that country is gradually losing the war on filth.
The issue of dealing with filth should be overemphasized since a clean environment is one of the requirements in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
There is no denying the fact that waste management has become a global concern.
It is estimated that almost half of the world’s population live without taking safe sanitation measures, and this has contributed to more children dying of environmentally-related diseases.
The situation in Ghana is no exception. However, the case of Tema New Town appears to be very unpleasant.
The inhabitants, who are mostly fisher folk, have indeed admitted that the situation leaves much to be desired.
But, instead of finding a solution to the problem, they keep on blaming city authorities and continue to live in the filth.
The residents blame sanitary officers for inefficiency, while on the other hand the sanitary inspectors point accusing fingers at residents for worsening the situation.
So one is tempted to ask the question: what country are we trying to build? It is imperative that as nation we inculcate the habit of keeping our surroundings clean.
The sanitary inspectors claimed that most of the residents act ignorantly due to the high rate of illiteracy in the community.
They indicated that residents refuse to adhere to simple rules and regulations.
The high rate of creating filth which eventually leads to improper sanitation has become the order of the day and is clearly visible on daily basis.
ENVIRONMENT TODAY, discovered among other things that litter clogs, open drains were displayed at its peak in the community right in the full glare of the public.
Foods were sold in filth and in open places near heaps of rubbish.
What is more, the Chemu Lagoon located in the community welcomes visitors, as well as passers-by with an overwhelming stench which emanates from the heaps of rubbish.
Irresponsible and insignificant approach to solving these problems has caused residents of the area to continue to worsen the already unhealthy situation.
This therefore calls for the need for all hands to be on deck to help abate this canker which seems to be eating into the
Tema New Town Filth
fabrics of our society.
By Nana Ama Prebah (Intern, Mysteek College)
probably the city authorities should provide the town with this big rubbish bins so as it can reduce the way filth is thrown anywhere.