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| Weija Lake encroached & polluted by cottage industries |
A Unit Committee Member
at Weija Electoral Area in Weija Gbawe Municipality in the Greater Accra Region
and some residents around Weija Lake are accusing the Asafoatse (Chief) in the
area, Nii Aryee Pampamku I for polluting the lake by using a portion of land
closer to the lake as refuse dump site.
The member, who spoke to The Manual on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimized, noted that in recent
times, both the military and police personnel on some occasions have been to
the dumping site to warn the people engaged in the activity, but they have
always returned to resume work.
This, the residents and
the committee member believed there is higher political undertone that is
enabling the activity to go on unstopped.
The Manual was the area to see firsthand and noticed the level of irresponsible dumping of refuse in the lake and what
we found out was jaw dropping as huge pile of refuse is dumped daily at that
sensitive area despite complaints from residents living there.
Some residents noted
that it is unhealthy to use that portion of land very close to the lake as
dumping site. Their worry was that should cholera outbreak hit the area, it
will have adverse effects on them.
The Assemblyman for the
area, Mr. Wilfred Blankson noted that portion of land belongs to the Asafoatse,
but the Assembly has not granted him permit to use it as refuse dump site.
Asked why the activity
is still ongoing whiles the Chief does not have permit, Mr. Blankson stated
that the whole problem is that the area does not have a Municipal Chief
Executive (MCE). He added that with the presence of an MCE, things will be done
swiftly.
“That
is a multi-million question everybody is asking. The authorities have worked on
it; how to stop it, how to go about it, they invited him, he came and provided
his indentures. The most important thing is that we don’t have an MCE but the
assembly can do something about” the assemblyman said.
Meanwhile, he stated
that the Chief had argued he had good intentions for the youths in the
community, and if those intentions were true, he sees it as a “laudable idea”,
but the manner its being done is the problem.
“The Asafoatse had
argued that there is no major source of employment for the youth. He said the
place is being used as a dumping site and afterwards the land will be filled
with laterite and sealed. After this is done, they will not build on it, but
panels will be installed as a company will soon come with heavy equipments to
establish factory at the area. Because there are no lands in the district, he
[Asafoatse] has taken it upon himself in order to assist the youth in getting
jobs. If this is true, fine”, Mr. Blankso added.
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| Dumping site: some refused washed into the lake |
In a sharp twist, the Assemblyman was very disappointed and expressed his outmost surprise and shock in the residents. According to him, when the activity started, he brought the press to cover the people’s plight for action to be taken. However, the residents expressed their satisfaction of the activity openly to the media.
“I took him [Asafoatse] on by reporting him to the assembly. I went to Onua FM and Citi FM; we had discussions on that issue. They were at the place with their reporters. Some residents who spoke to the media, however, stated that dumping of refuse at the area is rather helping them because since the activity began, whenever Ghana Water Company Limited spills water, it does not affect them unlike previously”.
“Therefore, the refuse dump at the area is good for them. At that time, I was there with a unit committee member and some colleagues; we were utterly shocked with their response”, he lamented.
Several attempts have been done to contact the Chief to respond on these issues, but all efforts aimed at reaching him proved futile.
Due to the continuous pollution of the Weija Lake, the Water Resources Commission (WRC) has hinted that the Kasoa toll booth and all illegal structures, including cottage industries around the lake will soon be demolished to protect the river body.
The lake provides 3 million gallons of portable water per day. Twenty-one (21) communities and over 3 million people in Western Accra and Central Region depend on the dam.
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