Tema Residents Alarmed Over Possibility Of Cholera Outbreak

Residents of Communities 10 and 6 in Tema have called on the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), to send as a matter of urgency, a team of engineers, health and sanitary inspectors to Plots 48/1 and 48/2 and the adjoining properties to investigate the construction of a permanent structure in the green belt which has exposed the area to the threat of cholera outbreak.

The construction of the structure by Mr. K. K. Acquaye, they said, has exposed the whole area to human excreta and its accompanying foul odour and the health hazard that it poses to the residents.

In a fresh petition to the MCE, Tuesday last week, they residents said: "A whole sewerage line has been exposed without a man hole and a cover thus sending foul air and allowing flies to multiply in the area. There is therefore the threat of a cholera outbreak".

The latest "Petition to stop the development of permanent structures on green belt at community 10 and 6, Tema. Ref: Diversion of sewerage piping system, manholes and health hazards at Plots 48/1 and 482 Community 10".

Giving a background to the petition, the residents prepared into "Concerned citizens of Communities 10 & 6 - Environmental and Green Belt Protection" said the parcel of land behind Plots 48/1 and 48/2 cleared for the development of a permanent structure forms part of the designated green belt allowed for in the original development plan of Tema to improve the immediate ecology in Community 10 and its surrounding vicinity.

Led by Mr. I. E. De Graft Johnson, the petitioners said the surface water drainage, sewerage and the fresh water supply serving the two plots in addition to the water mains to Communities 10 and 6 also pass through this belt.

"There were supposed to be drain gutters from the various houses and properties to the main street drainage system which passes through the green belt but which Tema Development Corporation (TDC) have not provided," the petitioners alleged.

According to the residents, the land is also reserved to be an emergency gathering point for residents in case of earthquake and other such disasters.

They, therefore, contended that the destruction of the belt would lead to environmental problems for residents.

In response to their earlier petition, TDC, in a letter dated February 1, 2001 informed the residents that the issue "is receiving attention and the outcome will be communicated to you as soon as it is addressed", but according to the residents, this was just to delude them while Mr. K. K. Acquaye who has been allocated the land goes ahead to develop it.

According to the latest petition, the residents said TDC and Acquaye diverted the sewerage system by tampering with the drainage and waste piping system onto the green belt which has affected the drainage system in the area thereby producing an offensive odour in the area.

Apart from this nuisance, the developer and TDC officials have also stopped residents of the two plots from laying bigger pipes from the mains to improve the low water pressure to their houses.

The external manholes and diverted sewerage pipelines from plots 48/1 and 48/2 are on Acquaye's plot which, according to the residents, ought not to be there but on a no man's land which was the case when the land was a designated green belt.

"The question is how does one perform his or her sewerage maintenance when faced with a blockage and spraying against insets and reptiles? Does one have to ask permission from the new landlords before such works are done"? they asked.

When contacted, Mr. Ofoe, the TMA Coordinating Director admitted receiving the petition and said every effort is being made by the relevant agencies to address the residents' concerns.

"We have been to the site with the Highway Engineer, Town and Country Planning officials, Ghana Water Company and TDC personnel for an on-the-spot assessment. We want to assure them that they have nothing to be worried about. We are working to make sure none gets inconvenienced in this situation", he concluded.