Barely weeks after a devastating flood that hit parts of Accra and a nationwide cleanup exercise initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, heaps of garbage have resurfaced along the Tema New Town coastline, raising fresh concerns about sanitation, public health and food safety.
The flooding, which occurred on June 29, left several areas affected by heavy rains, with residents experiencing waterlogging, displaced waste and damage to parts of their communities.
In response to the situation, the President announced a two-day cleanup exercise aimed at clearing debris, improving sanitation and helping affected communities recover from the impact of the disaster.
However, a video sighted by Overseer Media shows that sanitation challenges remain unresolved, as piles of refuse now sit close to areas where fish is dried for consumption at the Tema New Town coastline. The sight of plastic waste, discarded materials and other rubbish scattered along the shore has renewed concerns among residents and environmental advocates about the risks posed to public health.
Residents say the coastline, which serves as an important area for fishing and fish processing, has been repeatedly affected by poor waste disposal practices. They fear that the continued presence of garbage near dried fish could affect the quality of food reaching consumers and further damage the community’s fishing activities.
The situation has raised questions about the sustainability of periodic cleanup campaigns and the need for stronger waste management systems to prevent communities from returning to the same sanitation challenges after emergency interventions.
While the recent cleanup exercise helped remove waste and flood-related debris in several areas, residents are calling for regular monitoring, improved waste collection services and stricter enforcement of sanitation laws to protect the coastline.
