<<Print>>

Drivers and petty traders around the Accra-Tema bus station, popularly called “Tema station” near the Accra High Street, are threatening to stop paying their business operating taxes. They accuse the Accra Metropolitan Assembly of failing to collect refuse that pile up at the station on daily basis. They are asking Accra Mayor Dr. Alfred OkoVanderpuje to change supervisors managing waste collection in the area, or they will cease the payment of the taxes.

According to some angry traders and pedestrians, the Environmental Health Unit of the Assembly is a useless department and needs total over haul. They further accuse the unit’s supervisors of not managing the waste generated there properly.

They are asking the Greater Accra Regional Minster Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo as a matter of agency summon the mayor to answer questions on why that particular part of the city popularly called “Tema station” is stinking and dirty always. “It looks to us as if this area is not part of Accra” one of them told this reporter.

Some angry pedestrians described the smell emanating which fouls the whole area most of the times as poisonous and could kill them if nothing is done about it immediately.

A visit to the area revealed gutters filled with empty water sachets and other materials, making the passage of dirty water through them impossible. Drivers have taken over the roads, while food vendors had taken over structures meant for passengers. Likewise, second hand clothing and shoes sellers had also pitched camp on the pavements.

The traders accuse city authorities of doing nothing about the situation since they are only interested in monies they take from the traders.

A staff at the Ghana Health Service which has an office complex located near the station who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity warned of a possible cholera outbreak, cautioning everybody working around that environment will be affected.

She added that although as part of measures to keep Ghana clean, the first Saturday of every month has been designated for clean-up exercises across the country,the Tema station area has not been cleaned for some months now.