Accra Tudu refuse heap sparks public health fears in CBD | Ghanaguardian. com
A growing pile of uncollected rubbish at the Tudu trotro bus stop in Accra’s Central Business District has become a public health hazard, prompting traders and commuters to demand immediate action from city authorities. The waste has remained uncleared since Monday and has continued to grow over the past three days. By Wednesday afternoon, it
A growing pile of uncollected rubbish at the Tudu trotro bus stop in Accra’s Central Business District has become a public health hazard, prompting traders and commuters to demand immediate action from city authorities. The waste has remained uncleared since Monday and has continued to grow over the past three days. By Wednesday afternoon, it was producing a powerful stench that shop owners said was making business conditions increasingly difficult. Tudu is one of the busiest commercial centres in the CBD, serving thousands of traders, passengers and pedestrians every day. The accumulating refuse, together with the flies surrounding it, has disrupted activity and forced some businesses to operate in uncomfortable conditions. “We can no longer stand it. The smell is too much, especially in the afternoon. Customers also complain, and some don’t even want to stay,” a shop owner told Global Information Centre. At 3:00 pm on Wednesday, the rubbish was still piled up at the bus stop, with no indication that city authorities had arrived to remove it. Flies and stray dogs were seen around the dump, increasing concerns among those working and travelling through the area. Residents fear the conditions could contribute to the spread of cholera, malaria and other sanitation-related diseases, particularly because Tudu is a highly congested commercial and transport hub. The unsanitary conditions have also fuelled frustration over the effectiveness of the current sanitation drive in the capital. Traders and residents have questioned whether the city’s efforts are making sufficient progress when refuse remains uncleared in one of the busiest parts of Accra. “If we cannot even clear one heap at Tudu in the heart of Accra, then are we really winning the sanitation battle?_” another trader asked. Environmental health experts have repeatedly warned that waste left in densely populated locations such as Tudu can create breeding grounds for disease. They say the continued presence of refuse also threatens to undermine government efforts to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa. The growing dump has become particularly disruptive for traders, who say the smell is strongest in the afternoon and is affecting their ability to serve customers. Some businesses are also concerned that people may avoid the area because of the odour and the presence of flies. With the waste still in place on Wednesday afternoon, traders are appealing to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and waste management companies to intervene without delay. They want the rubbish removed before the situation deteriorates further and creates a greater risk for the large number of people who work, shop and travel through Tudu each day.