IMPROPER refuse management or disposal has since the colonial period been the main problem facing the various local councils in the country, especially the metropolises and the big towns.
Due to lack of equipment and logistics to clear refuse, most of the cities and towns were choked with refuse, and some of the refuse dumps that had not been cleared for years had became mountains emitting a pungent smell with flies hovering around them.
Such an unsanitary situation gave rise to epidemics such as cholera and dysentery, especially in the big towns where for lack of space, food sellers and vendors had to sell at refuse areas with swam of flies depositing all sorts of germs on the food.
The Eastern Region, which has some of the largest towns with fairly large concentration of people like other parts of the country, faced such a deplorable situation although not in similar magnitude as the metropolises such as Accra, Kumasi or Tamale.
Towns such as Koforidua, the regional capital, Akyem Oda, Somanya, Agormanya, Nkawkaw, Suhum, Old Tafo, and New Tafo, particularly were experiencing problems of waste management before 2006.
Although the various municipal and district assemblies did their best to clear the communities of filth and evacuate the mountainous refuse dumps at vicinities such as the Koforidua Railway Station and the Agormanya Market, the irregularity of the evacuation and the inability to cover most of the communities made such communities to be engulfed in filth.
To address the problem, it was decided to engage Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste collection firm, to assist the assemblies to execute the job throughout the country.
Zoomlion, which was contracted under the National Youth Employment Programme (to engage the unemployed youth), entered the region in 2006 and started work in partnership with the assemblies. Zoomlion assisted by providing sanitation equipment in addition to the actual disposal of refuse, mostly solid waste.
The company with a little over 1,000 workers, 1,050 refuse collection tricycles, 35 operational vehicles and numerous sanitation tools, has been able to operate in all the 21 political entities in the region comprising six municipalities and 16 districts, clearing choked gutters, sweeping all corners, especially public places of convenience and excavating the remnants of the heaps of refuse.
In all, Zoomlion disposes about 14,312 tonnes of refuse (solid waste) monthly and the bulk of the refuse is generated in the municipalities such as New Juaben, Birim Central, Kwahu West and West Akyem.
According to Mr Ernest Kusi, the Eastern Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion, although refuse collection in the region had not been easy, his outfit was doing its best to ensure that the task given to the company would be executed to perfection.
Mr Kusi said at the time Zoomlion started work in the region, it was not easy for the assemblies to maintain a clean environment although they were doing their best, as such Zoomlion had to offer the necessary support which had helped a lot.
“We entered the region to tackle the issue on all fronts at the same time, in communities both large and small in all the districts. Each of the districts has been allocated 50 of the tricycles and assorted sanitation tools.
“Our main objective is to find a lasting solution to waste management by efficiently and effectively building the capacity of the local assemblies in waste management, provide brand new waste management vehicles and to use simple technology (tricycle) to clear refuse,” Mr Kusi stated.
Another point worth noting is that Zoomlion apart from assisting the assemblies in refuse disposal also periodically undertakes infestation exercises, spraying specific areas to get rid of harmful insects and pungent smell.
It has also entered into agreement with a number of individuals and institutions in the region to help manage their waste products.
They include 1,197 people whose household waste is collected from door-to door, corporate entities such as the Regional Hospital, Midwifery and Nurses’ Training College, both in Koforidua, Chocho Industries at Suhum, the Atua Government Hospital near Odumase-Krobo, the Atibie Government Hospital at Atibie Kwahu and the Akuse Senior High School.
Touching on its future plan, Mr Kusi said Zoomlion would soon be recycling 90 per cent of solid waste generated in the region and also undertake a sustainable public education programme on the proper disposal of waste.
The company’s operation in the region has won the confidence of the people including top officials of the assemblies.
For instance, the Deputy Co-ordinating Director of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly, Mr Adu-Owusu Yeboah, was full of praise for Zoomlion, stressing that the company had lived up to expectation.
The Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, however, said “although Zoomlion has helped to manage waste in the region, there is the need for a sustainable public education on indiscriminate disposal of waste, as well as the provision of receptacles at all vantage points in the communities”.
“District Assemblies must learn from Zoomlion in building their own capacity, developing good working attitude on waste management while drains must be covered to prevent people from depositing waste products in them and these would go a long way to improve sanitation in the communities,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
It is hoped that the company will be able to sustain such a credible performance to justify its engagement for the job.
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