By Fiona Berry
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has appealed to private businesses to support government’s efforts to evacuate waste from the Agbogbloshie landfill site and dredge rivers.
The appeal comes as the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) and its members provided fuel and financial to support to help the ongoing efforts to haul waste from Agbogbloshie to the Adepa Waste Engineered Landfill Site.
A delegation led by COMAC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Riverson Oppong, presented the support to Mr Ayariga as a way to help sustain the operation.
The donations include 500 litres of diesel from CAP Energy through CAP Energy outlets, another consignment of fuel worth GH¢20,000 from PetroSol Platinum, and GH¢50,000 from JP Trustees.
RAS Oil also donated fuel coupons worth GH¢100,000, while another oil marketing company provided fuel worth GH¢12,000.
Sentuo Oil Refinery is also reported to have separately supplied 35,000 litres of diesel to support the exercise.
COMAC said the contributions show the oil marketing industry’s commitment to the nationwide sanitation exercise. It also indicates their resolve at ensuring the effective and efficient evacuation of waste from the site.
Dr. Oppong said the companies recognized the importance of the operation to the country and would continue to communicate their contributions through official letters to the ministry.
Speaking on the progress of the work, Mr. Ayariga said he was pleased with the pace of the evacuation and praised the Ghana Armed Forces, contractors, drivers, operators and supervisors for their dedication.
He said the volume of waste at the site had reduced significantly since President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the exercise.
“I’m sure that what is left there is not up to 20 per cent of what was there. Far, far less than that,” he said.
The minister added that he had been assured that one of the remaining heaps would be cleared within three to four days.
He said the progress made so far had created more space for the team to continue the evacuation and move to other sections of the site.
Mr Ayariga however stressed that more support was needed to complete the task and sustain the work. Particularly fuel required to operate trucks and heavy equipment is critical.
“It is a lot of work to be done, which will be a major undertaking. So we are still appealing to the private sector to support us,” he said.
The Minister said the fuel would be handed over to the team at the site, where the Ghana Armed Forces are leading the work under the supervision of Colonel Engineer Emmanuel Asai.
The minister explained that direct fuel supplies would be particularly helpful because the trucks and equipment belonged to the government, while the state also covered the operators’ allowances.
He therefore urged more companies and private businesses to provide fuel and other materials to help sustain the operation.
The waste evacuation forms part of efforts to improve sanitation and clear waste from Agbogbloshie and surrounding areas, including waterways that require dredging.
