By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, Feb. 17, GNA – The Waste Management Department of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has commenced work to address overflowing sewers in Tema Community One.
The overflowing sewer has left liquid waste flowing in major parts of the business area in Tema Community One, causing inconvenience to residents and businesses.
A team of sanitation workers from the TMA, equipped with cleaning equipment, began desilting the affected areas over the weekend.
The spillage, which affected many areas, including a sewer chamber located a few meters near the assembly’s entrance, caused insanitary conditions, forcing some sellers of boiled eggs and fruits to vacate the place.
Madam Bertha Essel, Head of Waste Management, TMA, said they identified a major blockage in the sewer system at Tema Community One, at the Casino area, as the primary cause of the sanitation challenges in the vicinity.
Madam Essel said to address the situation, there was the need to temporarily block other sewer lines in the area for sanitation workers and engineers to carry out the required maintenance and unclogging operations.
She assured residents that the necessary interventions were being implemented, and the issue would be fully resolved.
Mr. Ofori Laryea, the Sewer Manager at Tema Metro, attributed the blockage in the sewer system to the accumulation of solid waste and debris in the drainage network.
He said the buildup had significantly hindered the proper flow of wastewater, leading to sanitation challenges in the affected areas.
Mr. Laryea said the department was intensifying efforts to clear clogged drains and implement preventive strategies to reduce the recurrence of such blockages.
He emphasised the critical role of proper waste disposal in maintaining a functional drainage system and urged the residents to refrain from dumping solid waste into gutters and sewers, as such actions contribute to severe blockages, particularly during the rainy seasons.
He said some sewers and drainages remained uncovered due to their locations, making them more susceptible to accumulating debris and other materials.
Meanwhile, some residents, while welcoming the cleanup efforts, expressed frustration over the recurring nature of such incidents, which they say has become a long-standing health hazard.
Some passengers also expressed concern over the presence of swarms of flies around the exposed sewer waste, particularly during spillage.
They described the situation as both insanitary and unpleasant, noting that the back of the TMA had unfortunately become a gathering spot for smokers, junkies, and other individuals who frequently urinated in the area, contributing to the persistent foul odour.
The resident said they feared the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to the waste, including the spread of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne infections.
“We have lost count of the number of times the sewer has spilt; they need to find a permanent solution to this problem. How can the sewer be getting spoilt a few meters from the Assembly, and it’ll take days before they work on it?” Mr. Kwabena Owusu, a resident, said.
“It is sad how this place becomes a breeding ground for flies and faeces anytime there’s a spill, and I have lost count of the number of times this sewer spills, and if care is not taken, Tema will be one of the cholera-prone areas,” Ms. Celestine Tetteh, a fruit seller, said.
GNA