The despicable smell of human waste hanging over some parts of Ashaiman has still not deterred its residents from indiscriminate defecation, which act has rather been intensified.

Despite the numerous educational campaigns about safeguarding the environment by the media and the Ministry of Health, residents living around the toll gate and its environs, defecate in the bushes around the area, and on grasses near the overhead bridge, either at night or in broad daylight.

Both the young and old, without remorse, squat in the nearby bushes, with passengers of passing vehicles staring at them, defecate right beside the busy road, especially in the mornings.

These residents even go to the extent of defecating into polythene bags, and throw them at these places.

As if the stink is not enough, some residents sell food there at night, which people passing by readily buy and eat there, or take it to their homes.

Passerbys, both literate and illiterate, who by from food vendors at these places, forget that the tendency of the food being contaminated is there, and could even, lead to cholera and typhoid infections.

According to Mr. Alex Ofori, a teacher at one of the primary schools in Ashaiman, this attitude is as a result of how densely populated the town is.

He said the landlords and landladies refuse to provide toilet facilities when building. Moreover, as the existing number of Kumasi Ventilation Improved Pits (KVIPs) have not still not been increased, the migration of people into the town tends to bring pressure on the existing few KVIP's.

However, some of these residents claim because the KVIP's are extremely old, it makes the place very stinky, hot, and uncomfortable to use, which makes them feel nauseous sometimes.

They said the heat and stink sticks to their bodies and clothes, leaving them no choice than to take a bath every time they use these KVIPs. Due to this they always prefer to go to the roadside or the bushes to defecate in the fresh air.

Alas, with the Accra-Tema Motorway being one of the major links to Accra, this attitude gives a bad impression about cleanliness in Ghana to foreigners who use it.

The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), just as it undertook the decongestion exercise as way of improving upon the planning the town, must as well take the major step in doing something to prevent its residents from indiscriminate defecation, especially in the bushes along the motorway. Source: Helena Selby -