Residents of Tema Newtown are sitting on a time bomb due to the excessive dumping and burning of rubbish by some squatters, scrap dealers and rubbish collectors around a gas filling station at Zigi shore in the Homowo Electoral Area.
The enclave of the Coegan gas filling station has been turned into a dumping site by some rubbish collectors who transport the waste products to the area with tricycles.
When Atinkanews got to the area, several tricycles loaded with rubbish were seen heading towards the dumping site to offload them while some scrap dealers who had set ablaze the heap of rubbish were also seen busily picking out copper wires as well as other materials they deemed valuable.
Some residents in the area, who spoke to Atinkanews expressed fears over the threat such activities pose to their lives and properties due to the proximity to the gas station.
A Senior Manager of the gas filling station which has been existence before the latest development, Robert Annan, expressed his disappointment in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and that of the Tema Mayor, Felix Nii Anang-La, who he accused of failing to deal with the situation, which was first caused by waste products dumped on the sides of the Chemu lagoon after it was dredged.
He said despite plea to the mayor to address the situation, nothing has been done about it.
He said they are always in constant fears anytime they see smoke coming from the dumping site.
He said the dumping of refuse indiscriminately into the Chemu lagoon by these squatters and rubbish collectors has resulted in his facility getting flooded anytime it rains.
Checks indicate that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly is fully aware of these irresponsible acts, which pose a threat to the lives and properties in the area.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Philip Azu
