AMA resumes refuse collection in Accra

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 27 June 2006
THE Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) yesterday resumed the clearing of heaps of refuse that have engulfed the city of Accra over the past two weeks.
This followed an agreement reached between the AMA and the people of Oblogo, owners of the site where AMA dumps refuse.

Residents of Oblogo, near Weija in the Greater Accra Region, have for sometime now reportedly prevented refuse trucks from entering the dump-site explaining that the AMA had failed to fulfill its part of an agreement reached with them.

AMA a compensation for the use of the site was to provide the town with a clinic, drains, sanitary facilities and access roads.

The Assembly started implementing the terms of the agreement but stopped, citing the lack of funds.

Consequently, residents of Oblogo also decided against allowing further dumping of refuse at the landfill until the AMA resumed work on the projects.

AMA in reaction met with the chiefs and people Oblogo to resolve the issue and consequently resumed work on the projects thus making it possible for it to dump refuse at the site.

Speaking to the Times yesterday, Ali Baba Bature, Special Assistant to the Accra Mayor said, “By the end of the week, the AMA will clear all garbage in the city.”

The Assembly has acquired 25 trucks and 1,000 tricycles for the job adding that 4,000 more tricycles are expected very soon, he said. The tricycles are to be used to cart garbage from places the trucks cannot reach.

“All 17 private contractors have been called to the task and we are still recruiting more people to handle the tricycles.”

Currently, residents of Accra generate more than 2,000 tonnes of refuse daily, he said, and “we are able to clear 80 per cent daily.”

He said the AMA had not been able to make maximum use of the Teshie compost site because “there are too many plastic waste materials in the refuse and also because only compaction trucks can be used to dump refuse at the site which we do not have in abundance.”

The AMA is exploring the possibility of converting waste into energy and added that feasibility studies had been completed and the report was being evaluated.