Accra, Dec 4, GNA - Residents at Nii Boiman, a suburb of

Accra has been exposed to serious sanitation problems, which could

lead to an epidemic. The situation had also exposed the residents to a lot of health

risks, with a bad stench emanating from the unsanitary condition and

the indiscriminate defecating in the area. Also the hand dug wells in the area are very close to the toilets in

the various houses. Mr George Odoi Asare, a resident of the area, who spoke to the

Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday, after a clean up exercise

in the area, said "everybody was aware of the sanitation problem

and how hazardous it is to the health of the people, the problem is no

longer with the AMA, but rather ourselves." He said "if we all change our attitudes and create a clean and

healthy environment things would be better for us". Dr Sampson Boateng, Metropolitan Public Health Director of the

Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) when contacted, said access

to water had been identified as a major problem in the area, which

has necessitated the indiscriminate digging of hand dug wells in

houses. He said health officers have taken samples of water from the

wells in the area and that a few of the wells have been closed down

pending investigation. Dr Boateng said people should adopt a positive character

towards sanitation to save the government from spending so much

money to control waste. He urged the residents to change their attitude to ensure good

health and reduce the frequent visits to hospitals. He said "there was a limit to the efforts of the authorities; the

biggest challenge rested on the people themselves and how they

perceived issues of sanitation, within their localities". Mr George Okai, District Environmental Health Officer of the

AMA, said the irresponsible disposal of refuse into gutters and

drains did not facilitate the free flow of rain water, leading to flood

and loss of valuables and properties during the rainy season. On why a cleanup exercise organized by the AMA was

abandoned by the people living in the area, Mr Okai quickly

condemned the apathy shown by the people towards it. He appealed to schools and churches in the area to propagate the

message of maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene.