The Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has called for the Minister for Local Government to appear before Parliament to explain the government's decision to transport waste from Agbogbloshie to a landfill near Nsawam. Annoh-Dompreh expressed concerns that his constituency was chosen to receive the waste despite a major waste treatment plant operating closer to Accra at Amasaman.
Annoh-Dompreh questioned the rationale behind bypassing Amasaman and relocating the waste to Nsawam, citing potential environmental and public health risks for his constituents. He urged the Majority Leader, James Agalga, to schedule a briefing by the minister responsible for local government to address the issue. The MP had previously raised concerns about the matter with the Majority leadership.
The government's sanitation drive involves a 90-day haulage operation to clear an estimated one million tonnes of accumulated garbage from Agbogbloshie in Accra to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam. The exercise, led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, aims to make way for an industrial park. The operation is being carried out with funding from the Finance Ministry and the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Residents of the host community near the landfill have protested the health and environmental risks associated with the dumped waste. The Jospong Group of Companies intervened following the residents' concerns. Annoh-Dompreh's demand for a ministerial briefing had not been responded to by the Majority leadership or the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs as of Saturday.
Annoh-Dompreh emphasized that residents' environmental and public health concerns could not be ignored and rejected efforts to silence him over the relocation. He stated that he would not be intimidated and urged the House to take the matter seriously. The MP's concerns have sparked a debate about the government's waste management strategies and the need for transparency in decision-making.
The Minority Chief Whip's demand for a ministerial briefing highlights the need for accountability in the government's waste management initiatives. The exercise, which began on September 18, is being carried out with the assistance of the Ghana Armed Forces' 48 Engineers Regiment and District Road Improvement Project (DRIP) equipment.
The issue has sparked concerns about the government's commitment to environmental sustainability and public health. Annoh-Dompreh's call for a briefing by the minister responsible for local government has yet to be addressed, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the concerns raised by the MP and the residents of the host community.
Key points
- The government's decision to transport waste from Agbogbloshie to a landfill near Nsawam has sparked concerns about environmental and public health risks.
