The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has dismissed assertions that it has failed to manage waste within its jurisdiction.
The Assembly indicated that if those claims were true, the capital would have been overwhelmed with unprecedented levels of waste.
Public Relations Officer, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, made these remarks in response to a listener on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline, who questioned why the AMA had failed at waste management.
In his response, Mr Ankrah maintained that the Assembly has done its best to manage waste in the capital:
“Let me state without a doubt that if anyone claims that the AMA has not been able to manage waste, it is not true. It is untrue because if we had not managed waste in Accra, I am not sure residents in the Metropolis would have been able to move out of their rooms.”
He stated that the Assembly has systems in place to ensure that waste is collected and disposed of properly.
He explained that the primary challenge is a 30 per cent waste collection deficit in certain communities.
This is largely driven by individuals who refuse to hand over their rubbish because they either do not want to pay or lack the financial means, choosing instead to dump it indiscriminately.
Emphasising that waste management is a collective responsibility, Mr Ankrah encouraged the Ghanaian public to support the Metropolitan Assembly’s efforts.
To combat illegal dumping, he noted that the AMA has launched an initiative to reward individuals who report people dumping waste in drains and other unauthorised places.
He said this initiative was introduced in the spirit of being “each other’s keeper”.
Speaking to host Kwabena Agyapong, Mr Ankrah also revealed that the AMA recently launched a 24-hour waste collection system.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the AMA Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has introduced a dedicated WhatsApp line to encourage residents to report accumulated waste in their communities for prompt evacuation.
The dedicated number, 054 491 4628, will also enable residents to report sanitation offences to the AMA for enforcement and prosecution.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
