Agomanya: Traders at the Agomanya Market in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region have called on the authorities to permanently relocate a decades-old refuse dump situated in the middle of the market, citing health concerns, offensive odour, and the negative impact on trading activities. The traders say the location of the dump, surrounded by food vendors, cold stores, corn mills, and other businesses, poses a sanitation challenge and creates an unpleasant environment for both traders and customers.
According to Ghana Web, the refuse site, which has served the market and surrounding communities for decades, continues to receive waste from hundreds of residents, households, and businesses. Residents reportedly pay between GHS1 and GHS2 to dispose of their refuse at the location, while thousands of traders contribute significantly to the volume of waste generated from daily market activities.
Although three refuse containers are usually placed at the site, traders say they become full within days, leaving waste to accumulate for prolonged periods. They argue that the recurring problem cannot be solved by only clearing the refuse and have therefore called for the dump to be moved to a more suitable location away from the market.
A cold store operator, Tetteh Odjidja, who has been operating beside the dump for the past three months, explained that the situation has become unacceptable and affects the image of the market. He mentioned that mosquitoes have become a major problem and that it's unpleasant for customers who visit the market.
Maku Kpabi, who has sold maize and corn dough near the dump site for the past 16 years, highlighted the persistent challenges faced by traders due to the refuse dump. She emphasized the need for the assembly to act and relocate the dump to help improve sanitation and restore confidence in the market.
Leader of the corn millers at the market, William Bodua, described the situation as a major sanitation concern, stressing that the refuse dump has no place in the middle of a busy trading area. He pointed out that authorities have attributed the recent delay in clearing the refuse to challenges at the landfill site at nearby Akrade.
A resident, Maukle Teye, also expressed concern about the impact of the dump on people living and working around the market, noting that many have contracted typhoid fever.
When contacted, the Assembly Member for the Agormanya South Electoral Area, Mohammed Rafat, attributed the recurring accumulation of waste to occasional breakdowns of the refuse collection truck, which affects timely evacuation. However, he did not immediately comment on the traders' demand for the refuse site to be permanently relocated from the market.
The traders maintain that while regular evacuation of waste is necessary, the long-term solution is to relocate the dump from the heart of the Agomanya Market to protect public health, improve sanitation, and provide a better trading environment.