Ghana: Parliament, ZoomLion move to address Weija sanitation issues

The joint Parliamentary Select Committees on Roads and Transport and Local Government on Friday joined forces with waste management giants, ZoomLion Ghana Limited to learn at first hand the sanitation problems confronting the Weija community and its environs.

Lawrence Laryea, the operations Manager of ZoomLion Ghana Limited briefing Maxwell Kofi Jumah, MP for Asokwa about how his outfit manages the Saba Landfill site at Weija.

Their response was in connection to concerns raised by the community about the debilitating effect of poisonous liquid waste emanating from the Sabah Landfill site which was killing domestic animals.

 

Outraged by the out break of cholera in the country coupled with the fear of the poisonous liquid waste polluting the Weija Dam, the youth of the town recently blocked the road to protest against further dumping of waste at the Sabah Landfill site until their concerns are addressed.

They also issued a ten-day ultimatum for compliance to prevent further dripping of the poisonous liquid waste which was already on its way into a nearby stream connecting the Weija Dam in the community.

“We were alarmed by the death of our domestic animals after drinking the poisonous black water emanating from the rocks around the dump site.”

“The recent outbreak of cholera also put us on our toes to ensure that the dumping of waste in our community is well managed under very hygienic condition. Thus, compelling the youth to take it upon themselves to block the road to prevent further dumping of waste at Sabah Landfill site here in Weija,” noted the Acting Chief of Weija and Dzaase Tse, Nii Boafo Danyina Nse in his remark to the Parliamentarians.

According to Nii Danyina Nse, the Weija treatment plant supplies water to over five million residents in Accra and beyond but the road to the community has not yet been tarred since its first construction in 1961. The community he said has also been of help by providing landfill site to serve residents of Accra and some parts of the central region.

“We feel we have been denied a share of the national cake for far too long. The arrival of ZoomLion to help in the reshaping of the roads and drains was highly welcomed by the elders but till date they have not yet fulfill their promise to the fullest.”

Peeved by neglect, the Acting Chief of Weija appealed to Parliament to immediately come to the aid by ensuring that the community gets its share of the national cake saying “What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.”

The Ranking Member of the Committee on Local Government and MP for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah applauded the Chief and people of Weija for their timely intervention in preventing the spread of cholera.

“The problem would have been worse had it not been your intervention. We thank you for saving lives.”

He said the issue of neglect of the Weija community was raised some three years ago in Parliament and that resulted in the creation of Ga South Municipal Assembly to develop the area.

He said the MPs regardless of their political divide are united to address the needs of the Weija community and promised to convey their grievances to appropriate authority for response.

Saba landfill site faces closur

The MPs therefore inspected the Saba Landfill site. The Operations Manager of ZoomLion, Lawrence Laryea, in briefed the MPs about their operations and how they are managing the site.

According to him, landfill has a maximum of one year to close where it would be used for either a car park or a recreational center.

The MPs were also taken to Adjenkotoku where they inspected the multi-million sorting and composting facility which is 60% percent complete.