KofCity Konnect a networking group of young people and change makers in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital had a meetup to discuss a pressing issue that affects every Ghanaian. This has to do with the air quality and clean air in Ghana. The participants in this discussion identified problems affecting air quality and clean air such as:
Fumes from cars: This problem can be found in all the urban centers in Ghana where there are a lot of vehicles emitting fumes which pollute the air we breathe.
Burning of Rubbish: This is something that is very common with all the urban centers. Participants cited an example of a huge refuse dump near Akwadum in the New Juaben North Municipality. This refuse dump is used by both the New Juaben North and New Juaben South Municipalities as their dumping ground. These authorities sometimes set fire to the rubbish and the smoke and the stench emanating from the site is unbearable. The communities surrounding this dump site are really suffering.
Open Defecation and Indiscriminate dumping of rubbish: Due to the lack of toilet facilities, most of the people in some parts of the Koforidua township practice open defecation. Some people also resort to dumping of rubbish into the gutters when there is a heavy downpour. All these create a public health hazard for the communities in the Koforidua township.
Dust from factories in the Koforidua township: Some of the factories in the town and surrounding areas generate dust which affect the air quality in the town. The unpaved roads also generate dust which leads to some inhabitants having respiratory illnesses.
Solutions to most of the problems were also suggested. These were:
-The Municipal Assemblies should find better ways of disposing off rubbish and also resort to recycling. -Participants advocated for a public awareness campaign both in the schools and market places to drum home the importance of maintaining clean air in the municipality.
-It was also agreed that the Municipal Assemblies should impose heavy fines on people who dump rubbish into gutters to serve as a deterrent to others.
-Landlords in the municipality should be encouraged to provide places of convenience for their tenants. Any landlord who does not have a toilet facility in his house should be forced to construct one or fined heavily and that fine used to construct one for the house. This is to check the problem of open defecation in the municipality.
-People should also be encouraged to plant more trees to help check de-afforestation and improve on the air quality in the municipality.
The attendees of this important event emphasized the importance of air quality and pledged to champion the above listed solutions. Thus, a municipality with clean and quality air will bring a lot of health benefits and even bring in more people to come and experience the many sights and sounds of Koforidua and its surrounding towns. #CleanAirGhana
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