AfDB TO FINANCE WASTE TREATMENT PLANT (BACK PAGE)

REHABILITATION work on the Human Waste Treatment Plant near the Korle Lagoon in Accra is to begin, with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
This is part of measures to stop the emptying of human waste into the Atlantic Ocean.
The project, which is being undertaken by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), also involves the expansion of the sewage system in the central business district of Accra.
It is estimated to cost $68 million, with the AfDB providing 88.9 per cent of the amount, while the government is providing the other component.
The liquid waste project, among other things, is aimed at halting the disposal of waste into the sea, which has created a serious environmental problem along the coastline of Accra, especially the area near James Town, named Lavinda Hill, because of the strong stench emanating from the area, where the sea water has also become contaminated.
Mr Demedeme Naa, Head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, who disclosed details of the project to the Daily Graphic, said a new human waste treatment plant had been envisaged as part of the project to complement the existing plant, which has been termed a ‘white elephant’.
The new plant would use appropriate technology such as stabilisation pond system for waste treatment and disposal in the Accra metropolis.
He said because of the sophisticated nature of the old treatment plant it was difficult to maintain and sustain it after the expatriate who built it in the 70 had left the country.
He said the other area the ministry was considering was the recycling of the waste into energy by the use of incinerators.
He said private firms had been attracted into the country to hold discussions with the government on the supply of electricity from the Volta River Authority to run the incinerators.
He said human waste could also be turned into compost for urban agriculture, especially for dry season gardening.
He said until those projects were off the ground, the AMA had no option but to spill the human waste into the sea, an action he described as the lesser evil.
He said the health risks involved in the disposal of such pathogens into the sea for the fish to feed on was not the best, though the digging of trenches for waste disposal was not cost-effective, since it involved refilling and spraying of the trenches to ward off flies.
Mr Naa called for multi-sectoral approach to solving the human waste disposal in the country, since one sector alone such as the AMA could not undertake the onerous task.
He urged the ministries of Agriculture, Local Government, Health and Energy to pool resources and come up with a comprehensive policy that would attract more investors into waste management.
The communities around the Lavender Hill showed an atmosphere of consternation, with the area invaded by flies.
Madam Ama Takyiwaa, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said flies from the spillage site, after feasting on the waste materials, invaded the households, where they settled on every thing including food, cooking utensils and clothes.
The butchers’ shops in the area, where meat is sold, is under similar siege.
Mr Mumuni Barko, a butcher in the area, said he had to use repellents such as mosquito coils and spray to ward off the flies, which have caused a reduction in the patronage of his meat.