VRA, TAQA-TICO fumigate four Shama communities

Thermal power generators in the Aboadze enclave, the Volta River Authority (VRA) and TAQA-TICO, have jointly fumigated and disinfected houses in four host communities.

The exercise, being undertaken by Aslord Ghana, a local waste and pest management company, will cover homes in Aboadze, Djomo, Upper Inchaban and Abuasi, where the T1, T2 and T3 thermal plants are located in the Shama District.

Community disinfection

The exercise, which began last Saturday and is expected to be executed within a week, follows the fear and apprehension that has engulfed the communities after the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case was recorded at a quarry in the Shama District.

The Director of Thermal Generation at the VRA, Mr Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, explained that the exercise was part of the preventive measures within the communities to keep them safe and possibly prevent further community spread after a case was recorded.

He added that as a socially responsible company, the environment in which the companies operated formed a key part of their stakeholders.

“I must say that disinfection and fumigation are ongoing across the country, but the move to enter the communities in our own operational area became critical after a case was recorded.

“In order to assure our staff and their families and the communities and ease the level of anxiety, VRA and its partner TAQA-TICO, decided to carry out the fumigation and disinfection of households in the four communities and our plants,” Mr Obeng-Kenzo stated.

Health and safety

Mr Obeng-Kenzo added that the exercise was also to ensure that VRA’s stakeholders went about their normal duties freely and without fear.

According to him, after the exercise, the companies would also present Veronica buckets, alcohol-based hand sanitisers and other hygiene products to the communities and also support health facilities in the district and the communities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Non toxic chemical

The Managing Director of Aslord, Paapa Asmah, said the chemicals being used in the disinfection were not toxic on humans, since the communities could not be evacuated for the exercise.

“We’re also using high concentration of chlorine and the fumigation will be tackled with a chemical known as ‘ULVE’ for maximum effect. These were settled on for the exercise because they are not dangerous on humans” he explained.

He further said that the company was also using motorised and hand fogger machines to ensure that there was enough pressure to direct the chemicals into every hidden place to ensure total coverage of the selected areas.

Background

One of the Chinese nationals working with a quarry firm in the Shama District tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in the country.

The Chinese was one of six Chinese nationals and 32 Ghanaians working at one of the quarries located near Anto in the Shama District, where 72 of his contacts and colleagues were traced and quarantined in the quarry community.