A.M.A Still Operating Lavender Hill

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly continues to dump untreated liquid waste into the sea at Lavender Hill at Korle Gonno in clear violation of a court ruling. Over one hundred and twenty trucks dumped untreated waste into the sea at Lavender Hill daily with A.M.A taking twenty-five Ghana cedis as levy from each truck. Whiles the residence criticized A.M.A�s refusal to abide by the court ruling, they are also wondering why AMA is not using the newly constructed composting facility at Korle-Gonno. A petition filed by the Environmental Protection Agency to the Fast track high court stopped the AMA from dumping waste at the �lavender hill�. The strong stench that emanates from the waste site compelled the residents to name it �lavender hill� due to the volume of waste materials that are dumped there and usually creates discomfort for residents in the area. President John Dramani Mahama, after inspecting work on a model composting plant established with Danish technology at Korle Gonno in Accra last month announced that, the government is intensifying its collaboration with Denmark to establish composting plants in selected urban communities where there are challenges with liquid waste disposal. President Mahama said it was unacceptable for liquid waste to be dumped into the sea and rivers when they could be turned into useful agriculture products. The place where the traditional method of discharging liquid waste into the sea in Accra is done is referred to as Lavender Hill. The practice is environmentally unfriendly and poses serious hazards to both human and aquatic lives. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Accra Metropolitan (AMA) and the Danish Government have completed the Ga Mashie composting facility for liquid waste disposal but our checks shows that the facility is not being utilized by the A.M.A. Residents living near Lavender Hill were hopeful the completion of the Ga Mashie Composting Facility will mark the end of untreated waste liquid being dumped into the ocean in their community, but the paper�s investigation have shown that A.M.A is still permitting the dumping of liquid waste at Lavender Hill. A.M.A Mayor, Dr Oko Vanderpuiye since 2012 promised to closed down Lavender Hill in most of his Media interviews anytime he visits Lavender. �I am here to promise the people of Accra that by June this year 2012 we will eliminate Lavender Hill,� he gleefully said. The continue dumping of waste at Lavender Hill, violates the Fast Track High Court ruling and AMA Chief Executive could be cited for contempt of court.