Editorial: The Waste Clearance From Agbogbloshie Is Good But…

In a story we published yesterday, the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, demanded answers from government over the transportation of waste from Agbogbloshie in Accra to the Adipa area of the municipality.

The demand follows concerns from residents of the Yaw-Adipa/Asiyaw Electoral Area over the increasing volume of waste being brought into the community. Residents complain of foul odours, house flies, rodents and other environmental concerns, while also raising fears about possible pollution of drainage systems and groundwater.

The Assembly Member for the area, Emmanuel Asamoah, had earlier told the media that the community previously received waste, but was now under additional pressure because of the large quantities being transported from Accra. Residents are demanding a suspension of the dumping, an independent environmental and health impact assessment conducted, provision of permanent security barriers and surveillance, as well as public forum on long-term waste-management plan.

First of all, The Chronicle commends the government for taking steps to address the persistent waste problem in parts of Accra, particularly the accumulation of refuse in areas such as Agbogbloshie. Despite the concerns and protests from communities receiving the waste, the initiative to evacuate the rubbish is necessary and should be supported.

However, supporting the exercise does not mean overlooking the concerns of communities affected by it. The evacuation must be conducted in a manner that does not simply transfer Accra’s waste problem to another community.

The timing of the exercise, for instance, also requires reconsideration. The Chronicle witnessed evacuation of the rubbish at about 7:00 p.m. on Monday, this week, a period when many people are still returning from work and traffic is heavy. Moving large quantities of waste at such a time can contribute to congestion, disrupt residents and commuters and expose people to the unpleasant and pungent smell of the refuse.

The authorities should, therefore, consider conducting the evacuation after 10:00 p.m., when traffic and human activity have significantly reduced. This would minimise disruption and allow the exercise to proceed more efficiently.

More importantly, the disposal site must be properly equipped to receive the volume of waste being transported there. The concerns raised by residents about foul odours, house flies, rodents and possible runoff into drainage systems cannot be ignored. Appropriate measures must be put in place to contain the waste, control odours and pests, manage wastewater and prevent possible contamination of surrounding areas.

Government and the relevant municipal authorities should also ensure that the site does not become another uncontrolled dumping ground. Measures such as permanent barriers, controlled access, security personnel, surveillance and enforcement should be introduced to prevent individuals and businesses from continuing to dump refuse indiscriminately at the location.

Community engagement is equally important. Chiefs, residents, assembly members, the municipal assembly and other relevant stakeholders should be consulted on the management of the site and the long-term arrangements for waste disposal. Such engagement can help address legitimate concerns while ensuring that necessary waste-management interventions are not undermined.

The government’s decision to tackle the accumulated waste is a step in the right direction. But for the exercise to achieve its intended purpose, waste must not merely be moved from one location to another. The receiving facilities must be properly managed, communities protected and illegal dumping prevented.

A cleaner Accra should not come at the expense of an unhealthy or poorly managed receiving community. With proper planning, timing, equipment, enforcement and community engagement, the government can pursue the clean-up exercise while protecting the people and environment of communities receiving the waste.

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