Abuakwa residents express concern about poor sanitation

Abuakwa (Ash), Nov. 21, GNA - Residents of Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district of Ashanti have expressed grave concern about the poor sanitation in the town. They refer to two mountains of refuse right in the centre of the town, which were posing health hazard to the community. Added to this, they say, is the menace of a cattle ranch also situated right in the middle of the town, which also posed health hazard.

Mr Joseph Amankwa Akintola, a spokesman for the residents of Abuakwa who spoke to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, wondered why the Atwima-Nwabiagya district assembly was now showing any seriousness towards evacuating the refuse and relocating the ranch far away from the town.

He said the present situation was likely to lead to the outbreak of an epidemic at Abuakwa and its surrounding areas.

"What is even more worrying is the fact that food sellers sell food very close to the refuse dumps and cattle ranch", Mr Akintola added and said this was a sure recipe for the outbreak of an epidemic. He asked the environmental officers of the assembly to enforce the assembly's bye-laws by dealing drastically with people who do not confine their domestic animals but allow them to roam about. Mr Akintola also appealed to hairdressers and hair plaiters to gather and burn the pieces of thread they throw about since they posed danger to fowls.