By Kingsley Nana Buadu
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has commenced an exercise in the Central Region to evacuate all existing refuse dump sites within the cities and communities of the region.
The nationwide exercise is to rid the region of filth, improve sanitation, and also avoid flooding, especially during the rainy season.
At one of the exercises in Mankessim Essikafo Amba Ntem, residents who were very close to the refuse dump site, which was right in the town, were so grateful to the government for the initiative, which would let them sleep and relieve them of frequent visits to hospitals with malaria and stentch.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is undertaking this nationwide exercise through the various MMDAs.
The ongoing refuse evacuation exercise is under the government’s “Clean Ghana Agenda,” aimed at improving sanitation challenges in the country.
The implementing partner, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, is providing trucks, personnel, and technical expertise to convey the refuse to the final designated sites.
While at Mfantsiman Municipality, similar exercises are taking place in other MMDAs across the region.
The refuse dump site at “Esikafo Amba Ntem” served about four communities within the area.
According to residents of Mankessim, “Essikafo Amba Ntem.” they have had to endure the health challenges and the stentch the refuse dump site imposed on them close to 40 years.
They applauded government and Zoomlion Ghana for the initiative and pleaded for refuse containers and toilet facilities in place of the dump site.
The Mfantsiman Municipal Environmental Health Officer, Eric Pizzas Mensah, explained that all existing refuse dumps within the municipality would be evacuated.
The MCE of Mfantsiman Municipal Assembly, Ike-Lord Ennu, noted that the government is doing everything possible to ensure a clean Ghana.