MESSING UP WATER BODIES BIG TIME IN KUMASI

Picture shows polythene and other waste materials choking up some water bodies at Suame.
The continued pollution of water bodies in the Kumasi metropolis has been a major problem environmentalists have been trying to uproot.
There has been a massive pollution of water bodies in the Kumasi metropolis in the last few years as people dump filth and human excreta into rivers haphazardly at all areas in the metropolis.
Some have even connected their sewerage pipes directly into rivers where excreta from their homes are directly deposited into the rivers which drain into the Owabi and Barekese dams, which provides water supply for Kumasi and other surrounding areas.
Although the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Environmental Health Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) have on numerous occasions embarked on campaigns to call on people to desist from such activities, the practice seems to be on the increase.
Save Our Waters Ghana (SOWG), a non governmental organisation in Kumasi has taken a giant step in fighting the canker but its efforts would come to nothing if residents don’t change their attitude towards pollution.
Ghana has been highlighted to become one of the water stress countries in Africa in a few years to come. The recent rationing of pipe borne water by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), felling of trees along river banks and destruction of forest reserves at dam catchments, developing water bodies for settlements, dumping of refuse at the catchments of water supply and outbreak of water related diseases are all issues which point to a near future water stress in Ghana.
Water shortage causes a lot of problems ranging from domestic, industrial and in government circles as well.
In view of this, it is about time that people became conscious about saving water bodies in order to help avert any water crisis in future.

Vegetables on ground for sale

Picture shows market women selling vegetables and fruits on the bare ground and close to stagnant water and gutters infested with filth at the Dunkirk area in Kumasi near the Asafo Market-UTC Interchange, which is under construction.
This picture depicts an example of conditions under which food stuffs especially vegetables and fruits, most of which are eaten raw are sold on the bare ground in market places across the country.
There have been numerous calls from members of the public for market women to desist from such practices but the calls seem to be falling on deaf ears.
At a recent matriculation ceremony of the Kwadaso Agricultural College in Kumasi, the Principal of the College, Mr Anthony Appiah proposed that District Assemblies should enact bye-laws to compel vegetables and fruit sellers to at least sell on tables.
Such, a move he said would help make vegetables and fruits hygienic for human consumption.