A critical sanitation crisis is unfolding at the busy Pipe Ano traffic intersection and surrounding areas in the Effia Kwesimintsim municipality in the Western Region.
The streets have been “taken over” by mounting heaps of uncollected refuse. The situation, described as increasingly dire by residents and traders, stems directly from the non-renewal of the waste management contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
For weeks, street sweepers have been absent, leading to a visible and odorous accumulation of garbage at key locations. Pipe Ano, a major traffic hub, is cited as one of the worst-affected areas, with refuse piles growing steadily.
The stench of decay is now severely impacting businesses nearby. At the Jubilee Park market, also in the same municipality, traders are raising loud complaints about the unbearable foul smell emanating from overflowing refuse containers that have reportedly gone unemptied for weeks.
They place the blame squarely on the local authorities for failing to ensure regular waste collection and disposal.
“It’s becoming impossible to work here,” lamented one trader, who requested anonymity. “The smell is sickening, and customers are staying away. Who is responsible for clearing this mess? It’s been weeks!”
Interim Measures
Acknowledging the severity of the crisis, Philip Nyarko, Presiding Member for the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA), confirmed that the Assembly is taking stopgap measures. He revealed that EKMA is currently using its own backhoe loader to manually evacuate the worst accumulations of refuse at various points, including Pipe Ano.
However, Mr. Nyarko emphasized that a permanent solution is still pending.
“We are yet to take a decision on that… as to how we get this cleaning done given that Zoomlion is no more going to be engaged,” he stated.
He confirmed that the urgent waste management issue is slated for discussion at EKMA’s General Assembly Meeting scheduled for July 16th, 2025.
“In the meantime,” Nyarko added, “we are using the backhoe to evacuate refuse that has piled up at various places.”
While the use of the backhoe provides temporary relief at specific sites, residents and traders remain deeply concerned.
