Pensioner threatens legal action over refuse dump

Mrs Vicentia Quist, a 76-year-old pensioner and her household, have threatened legal action against the Ho municipal assembly over the continuous piling of refuse close to their residence.

Expressing concern over the danger it poses to their health, Mrs Quist told the Ghana News Agency in Ho on Monday that smoke and dust from the refuse site blow directly into their rooms causing discomfort for her and the entire household.

She said residents in the area have also been complaining of invasion by swarms of houseflies and mosquitoes compelling them to retire to bed early.

The GNA visited the final disposal site at Mile 48 following allegations that the owner of the land had prevented the municipal assembly from further dumping refuse there. This has resulted into heaping of refuse at some parts of the municipality for the past two weeks.

Mrs Quist said the site in question formed part of her property and that she was not consulted before making the place a site for refuse disposal.

She said to her surprise the municipal assembly and some private individuals started dumping refuse and human excreta at the site which is very close to her windows.

She complained that the refuse trucks that come to dispose off the refuse had also put the road in bad state.

Mrs Quist said she lodged a formal complain to the municipal chief executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, and the dumping ceased but noted that it had resumed. Meanwhile, she had blocked the road to prevent further dumping.

GNA's attempts to reach Mr Goh failed but when Mr Anthony Adzomani, Volta Regional Director of Zoomlion, a waste management firm in charge of waste management in Ho municipality was contacted, he declined comment on the matter.

Mr Prosper Anatsui, Ho Municipal Director of Environmental Health on his part said the refuse trucks to collect the refuse had broken down and were being repaired.