DEALING WITH THE FILTH IN ACCRA

A FEW weeks ago, we were inundated with media reports of the accumulation of garbage in many suburbs of the nation’s capital. Apart from producing an overpowering stench, the decomposing waste posed a health hazard to both traders and residents.
One major reason cited for the rot was the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA’s) indebtedness to private waste management contractors. The figure was said to hover around GH¢12.5 million.
But today, there is hope on the horizon. A story published on the Metro Page in today’s issue of the DAILY GRAPHIC clearly shows that sanitation conditions in most parts of the Accra metropolis have improved tremendously.
Indeed, the heaps of refuse that hitherto had become embarrassing landmarks around Accra with nauseating and pungent effects have been cleared — thanks to the timely intervention of the central government, which released GH¢10 million to offset the debt owed the waste management contractors. We are also happy to learn that arrangements have been made for gradual monthly payments to clear the rest of the debt.
Although the situation appears firmly under control, the resurgence of filth in the system cannot be glossed over. The obvious question, therefore, is: Just where is the so much filth coming from?
The DAILY GRAPHIC vividly recalls that in February, 2005, the AMA successfully embarked on a massive decongestive exercise, primarily in areas in the Central Business District.
Thereafter a Pedestrian Shopping Mall (or Hawkers Market) was constructed at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to cater for the needs of those traders who were displaced by the exercise.
In no time however, and coupled with undue political interference in the many initiatives by the AMA Chief Executive, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson, the nation was to witness an unprecedented resurgence of a new breed of hawkers and traders cascading onto the streets and pavements of Accra and generating garbage all over the place.
But we cannot look on unconcerned. We think it is time the AMA under the leadership of the Chief Executive took another drastic action to ensure that sanity returns to our Central Business District and thereby keep our city clean.
The DAILY GRAPHIC suggests that the AMA should issue an ultimatum to all those who secured spaces, received ID cards and signed a declaration of non-transfer of space, to move back to the Pedestrian Shopping Mall. At the end of the deadline, all those who do not return should be made to lose their stalls. That, we think, is fair and just.
We think the AMA has been tolerant for far too long. Now is the hour to enforce discipline in our society so that Accra rediscovers its accolade as the heartbeat of the nation.
Furthermore, we think the AMA should enforce its bye-laws to the letter. We are aware, for instance, that there is a bye-law that enjoins each and every trader to clean his or her trading space at the end of business activities each day and even those who trade in edible oil are duty-bound to clean any stains or spills in the course of their business.
Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case and the overwhelming new entrants into the hawking business are yet to know their responsibilities. Certainly, we cannot behave as if we are living in a lawless country.
Sanitation tops everything in our society. And we will swim or sink together irrespective of our political orientation if we do not take action now.