Residents of Mallam in the Weija Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region have appealed to the Ghana Armed Forces and other state security agencies to intervene to halt the activities of heavily armed land guards protecting an illegal landfill site in the municipality.
They attributed the persistent flooding in the area to the activities of the alleged land guards, explaining that the landfill, situated within a critical watercourse near Mallam, had obstructed the natural flow of stormwater, leading to recurrent flooding.
They said the incessant flooding has destroyed homes, displaced families and damaged roads and other public infrastructure during heavy rains.
Tricycles
Checks by the Daily Graphic revealed that the site had become an illegal waste receiving point where refuse collected by tricycle waste operators from various parts of Accra was dumped daily, despite repeated complaints from residents.
The residents said attempts by public officials to halt the dumping had been thwarted by armed men believed to be land guards, creating fear and insecurity within the community.
That, they said, had also made it difficult for municipal authorities to enforce environmental regulations.
In that regard, the residents are calling for a joint operation involving the Ghana Police Service, National Security, environmental authorities and, where necessary, the Ghana Armed Forces to restore public control over the area and halt the illegal activities.
Environmental concerns
The residents say continuous dumping has narrowed and blocked sections of natural drainage channels that previously carried stormwater to larger water bodies, worsening flooding in the community.
Drone images of the area showed mounds of waste covering portions of watercourses, although independent environmental assessments would be required to determine the full extent of the obstruction.
Aside from the flooding, the residents said the landfill had become a breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects, raising concerns about sanitation-related diseases within surrounding communities.
The residents further expressed concern about the activities of artisans and sand sellers underneath the Mallam interchange, saying heavy rains regularly washed large quantities of sand into drains, which also caused flooding.
