Waste management equipment for 33 assemblies
Thirty-three metropolitan and municipal assemblies (MMAs) have received waste management equipment worth $10.7 million from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD).
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The equipment includes 25 skip trucks, 34 garbage compactor trucks, 30 mounted roll-on roll-off machine trucks, 10 suction and high pressure jetting trucks and 14 suction machine trucks.
They were purchased with a loan facility from the Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of India.
At the presentation ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Baba Jamal said, “It is my firm belief that in a couple of months our major cities and towns will be clean, devoid of the usual garbage heaps which become a vehicle for cholera outbreaks, especially now that the rains have started.”
Chief executives from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA), Ga South Municipal Assembly (GSMA), Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA) and Adentan Municipal Assembly were present to take delivery of their consignment.
Other chief executives from Cape Coast, Tamale, Kasoa, Wa, Bawku, La Nkwantanang, New Juabeng, Suhum, Keta, Ashaiman and Bolgatanga were also at the ceremony.
Mr Jamal indicated that the support to the MMAs was in line with the 2010 revised Environmental Sanitation Policy, which required assemblies to retain 20 per cent capacity to ensure sustainable service delivery.
He, however, directed the heads of the assembly to ensure that the vehicles were regularly maintained to ensure that they had a long lifespan.
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He also said that the new vehicles would improve solid waste collection. As a result, chief executives must look for large tracts of land on which they would dispose of their waste.
“The amount of waste to be collected will definitely increase and this will call for a means of treatment and safe disposal. I, therefore, urge all MMDAs, as a matter of urgency, to legally acquire land for the development of treatment and disposal facilities”, Mr Jamal said.
Story: Naa Lamiley Bentil
Writer’s email: naa.bentil@graphic.com.gh