Toilet Operators to go to Court

Operators and managers of public toilets in the Ashaiman Municipality have issued a notice to commence legal action against the municipal assembly over the seizure of some of the facilities under their management. The notice of issue, dated October 5, 2009 was addressed to the Municipal Chief Executive through their legal representatives, Kwasi Blay and Associates. A copy of the letter, which was made available to the Daily Graphic, stated that the law firm was acting on behalf of its clients Seasuk Company Limited, Rajakwa Company Limited and 13 others. The operators noted that: �Some persons perceived to be followers of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the municipality, without due process, had embarked on a seizure and management of the public toilets under the management and care of our clients.� The letter further stated that the first seizure was in January, this year, which lasted for four months, with the second and third also lasting seven and three days respectively.� We are, therefore, urging the assembly to take the necessary action to ward off trespassers from the facilities and ensure that the operators delivered their services without any interruptions. The solicitors indicated in the letter that due to the silence of the assembly on the extension, their clients �hold the view that the Franchise Agreements have been extended by a further period of 17 weeks, from December 01, 2010�. The operators denied allegations made by the Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Addison Adinortey Numo, in his sessional address to the assembly at its second ordinary meeting of the second session on September 29 and 30, 2009. According to the letter, in the said address, Mr Numo had alluded to the fact that there were complaints from the public that the toilets were not neat. He also said reports from the Waste management Department of the assembly �confirmed the existence of nuisance, offensive odour and breeding of flies, which posed health hazards to the communities, and there was the likelihood of an epidemic outbreak in the municipality.� The letter noted that the statement was a deliberate ploy to incite the assembly members and the public against them and create an atmosphere that will result in unilaterally terminating the Franchise Agreement. The letter indicated that the operators had dutifully maintained and kept a clean environment at all the facilities under their management. When the MCE, was contacted on telephone for his reaction to the new development he said the assembly was planning to meet the operators on Friday to discuss the issue amicably, because the assembly had decided to take over the management and facilities.