Zoomlion warns sanitation offenders

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Mr. Robert Coleman, has cautioned Ghanaians to desist from the habit of dumping solid wastes into drains and gutters.

Mr. Coleman, who gave the warning when he led a team of environmental journalists yesterday to visit the on-going Korle Lagoon drainage project, called for attitudinal change towards the environment.

The project, which is being undertaken by Drainage Masters Company Limited, a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies, involves cleaning of silt, dredging new siltation ponds and the removal of rubbish from the Odaw drains and Korle Lagoon in Accra.

He further warned that Accra will continue to experience flooding if residents do not change their attitude towards sanitation in the city.

According to him, although Zoomlion will do its best to support the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to remove silt from the drains within the metropolis to prevent flooding in future, the bottom line is that residents should change their negative attitudes to environmental sanitation.

He assured that his outfit will continue to clear the drains of silt and educate the public on the dangers of dumping refuse into open drains.

He was hopeful that the implementation of the Accra Sanitation Sewer and Storm Water Drainage Alleviation Project to construct storm drains would help reduce flooding in the national capital.

Sharing his perspectives on sanitation in Accra in the aftermath of Sunday's floods, Mr. Coleman asserted that it was unpardonable that the government would spend huge sums to clear the drains of silt and clear rubbish from the metropolis only for citizens to “religiously” dump waste into open drains that have been cleared.

According to Mr. Coleman, Zoomlion found it very difficult to believe that even after several drains have been cleared of silt by the AMA, especially the primary drains, and Zoomlion clearing over 400 secondary drains, Accra is still flooded in an hour of rainfall.

He, therefore, stressed the need for an immediate directive to be given by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the establishment of a sanitation court in every sub-metro.

He stated that the ministry should make it mandatory for every district or municipal assembly to have a sanitation court that will prosecute residents who abuse the environment.

Mr. Coleman said the sanitation courts would also generate funds internally for the government to continue to carry out its agenda on the management of waste.

“Now that the drains are choked, where are we going to get the money to desilt the drains? But if we are able to prosecute offenders, the money generated can be directed into such activities,” he added.

On sanitation laws, Mr. Coleman said it was high time the laws were amended “to bite instead of barking.”

“The bye-laws now do not serve as deterrent to others. How can you fine someone GH¢3 for flouting the law when you can fine the individual GH¢100 or more to let them know the seriousness of the offence they have committed?”

He also called on all religious leaders to preach about sanitation to their congregation at all times.

He stressed the need for the media to sensitise the people on the need to change from practices that negatively affect the serenity of the environment to enable the people enjoy good health and sound living.

According to Mr. Coleman, if the people who abuse the environment were severely dealt with by taking those offenders to the sanitation court, it would serve as a warning to others to change their attitude towards the environment.

He stated that the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) should no longer spare people who engage in open defecation or litter the environment, charging the assembles to activate and vigorously enforce sanitation by-laws to deal with those who litter the environment.

He disclosed that if, "you go to Chorkor and many parts of Accra you will observe that residents are dumping solid wastes, especially plastics, into open drains and gutters.

This practice, according to him, was exhibited by the residents during the night or sometimes when it is about to rain with the knowledge that the refuse will be washed away by the rains.

"This reckless attitude of people dumping into waterways and gutters shattered the lives of many people on June 3, 2015...we do not want to experience this heart-breaking disaster in Ghana again.

“And that is why my outfit is doing everything possible to ensure proper flow of water in Accra in the heart of this year’s raining season,” he stressed.

He warned of the consequences of floods which could lead to outbreak of diseases including cholera, diarrhea among others.

He observed that the said areas got flooded last year as a result of dumping of refuse into the drains, adding that “if we do not change our bad attitudes towards our environment and do what is expected of us, government will not be able to have more funds to build schools, hospitals and roads.”

According to Mr. Coleman, environmental sanitation issues are not the responsibilities of the central government and waste management companies only, but a shared one, calling on the media to help deal with people who pollute the environment.

He thus appealed to Ghanaians, particularly residents in Ghana’s capital, Accra, to desist from littering the streets and dumping refuse into water bodies as these practices tend to negatively affect the community and its people through the outbreak of diseases.

He predicted that Accra risks experiencing more floods, if residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, do not refrain from the “habit of dumping solid wastes into drains and gutters.”

“We should expect more floods in Accra if people do not change their lifestyles and attitudes towards the environment,” Mr. Coleman cautioned.