Tema, June 21, GNA - Closure of the only 10-seater place of convenience at Kakasunanka Number One near Michel Camp since August 2005 compelled the community to defecate in polythene bags before disposing them in the bush.

Attempts by the people to resort directly to near-by bushes were prevented by the soldiers to protect their environment from unpleasant seen, Mr Samuelson Tetteh Allenge, assembly member for Kakasunanka electoral area said on Tuesday in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Tema.

He explained that the place of convenience constructed by Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) was closed down on the orders of Ghana Water Company and Environmental Protection Agency (FPA) because it was sited near the main pipeline and the effluent would contaminate provision of potable water.

Mr Allenge, said the facility was constructed in February 2005 and closed down in August the same year, compelling the people to resort to the present practice.

However, he said anyone caught squatting in the bush defecating was severely disciplined by soldiers hence the use of polythene bags. Mr Allenge was surprised that experts at TMA could not offer technical advice and sited the facility at an inappropriate place. He said a local NGO "Posh Loo" had offered to finance construction of another place of convenience while Nene Akrofi II, Chief of the village had released land for the project.

Mr Allenge said the problem now was for TMA to issue a permit to construct the facility "but TMA has not issued the permit despite persistent calls and reminders to the assembly officials."

When contacted, Mr Stanley Martey, Tema Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ghana Water Company alleged that on onset of the construction of the facility, officials of the Company alerted TMA of the dangers that it could pose to human health as it was so close to the main water pipe line but they ignored the advice.

He said ideally no construction should be undertaken within 15 to 30 meters radius to the main water pipe line but in this particular case it was only between six and eight meters which was unacceptable. Mr Martey said the Company therefore, directed that the facility should be closed down and demolished and expressed surprise that TMA had since not complied with the directive to demolish it.

He gave the assurance that "we are monitoring to ensure that it is not used", adding the Company did not have the mandate to pull down structures otherwise it would have been demolished.

Mr John Tettey, Programme Officer of Tema Office of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told the GNA that they had information about the construction of the facility after it was completed and being used by the people.

To prevent future occurrences, Mr Tettey advised developers to consult EPA for expert advice on environmental issues for their own safety.

However, efforts to contact TMA officials for their version proved futile. 21 June 06