At this period of time when cholera is spreading at a fast rate, with its associated deaths recorded in the country, the residents of Elmina in the Komenda Edina Eguafo-Abirem Municipality (KEEA) have been living and trading alongside a huge pile of accumulated refuse.

For over a week, Zoomlion Limited, the leading waste management company in the country, has been unable to remove the heap of refuse due to shortage diesel in their trucks, as well as the various surrounding fuel filling stations in the area. Some residents living close to the refuse heap have appealed to Zoomlion to expedite action to clear the area, in order to avoid a cholera epidemic, adding that several reports have been made to the authorities, but nothing has been done.

In an interview with The Chronicle, the Municipal Operations Supervisor of Zoomlion, Mr. Jerry Afoakwah, noted that their inability to clear the refuse from the central part of Elmina was due to lack of diesel in both Elmina and Cape Coast. He said that there has been an acute shortage of diesel in Central Region, resulting in the heap of refuse in Elmina, adding that the two trucks meant to convey the refuse have been parked, except the supplementary truck that goes from house to house to clear dustbins.

Mr. Afoakwa stressed that the odour and pollution from the refuse dump is unbearable for the inhabitants, and, therefore, needed an urgent solution, even though Zoomlion has been disinfecting the site every morning, he added. He was optimistic that fuel will be available at the various filling stations soon, in order for Zoomlion to acquire diesel for the trucks and clear the refuse.