BAD STENCH RAIDS ASYLUM DOWN

Published in the Daily Graphic on 6/08/08, Metro pg

Story: Matilda Attram.

Some residents at Asylum Down have turned a major uncovered drainage near the Christian Methodist High School, which is close to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, into a place of convenience though a public toilet is sited few metres from the drain.
Interestingly, some residents defecate anytime of the day without shame, ignoring cars that drive by.
Some also defecate into black plastic bags and throw them into the drain that directly connects the Odaw River, oblivious of the health hazards their action create.
Residents also dump used toilet paper and rubbish into the drain, thus choking it and causing the drain to overflow its banks anytime it rains compounding the sanitation situation in the area..
Passers-by are either spotted covering their noses or fleeing from the stench that emanates from the drain.
When the Daily Graphic inquired from residents as to why some people defecated into the drains, some said they could not afford to pay 25 pesewas each time they wanted to attend to the call of nature at the toilet facility in the area.
Mr Sebastian Nii Attram, a resident, said: “They complain that the 25 pesewas they are being asked to pay is too expensive hence they use the open drain which is free of charge. The behaviour is irresponsible but it seems the metropolitan authorities are too relaxed to enforce the assembly’s bye-laws on sanitation.”
It is so common to see adults and children squat closely at the edge of the drain without fear of falling into it.
A student at the Christian Methodist High School, Ms Amanda Wilson, described the situation as worrying.
“We always hurriedly climb the stairs and cross the street to the other side of the overhead bridge at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle when we close from school because the stench is unbearable. We have to cover our nostrils to stop inhaling bad air which emanates from the drain,” she said.
Some residents told the Daily Graphic that anytime it rained heavily, water from the overflowing drain carried human excreta into their homes.
A resident, who gave her name as Esi Nkansah, said the bad odour that wafted through their homes was unbearable.
“We cannot bear the stench especially in this rainy season; we can't sleep at night because we breathe in bad air. Please the metropolitan authorities must do something about our situation,” she said.
Some residents who pleaded anonymity claimed they had reported their plight to the assembly member of the area but nothing seemed to be done about the worrying situation.
They alleged that the assembly member was aware of the situation but had done nothing about it.
The Director of the Osu Klottey Sub-Metro, Mr Seth Nii Okpe, told Daily Graphic that there had been no official report to the assembly.
He, however, admitted that the situation was unpleasant. “It's a huge problem particularly since it is close to a school and residential homes. It is also worrying because it is close to a public toilet and the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which is a ceremonial area. We need to solve this problem holistically,” he said.
“We need to tackle the problem immediately. I plead with members of the community, assembly members, and security institutions particularly the police to help arrest offenders,” he added.