Accra, July 28, GNA - The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, on Wednesday described the performance of waste contractors in the metropolis as 93very abysmal" and challenged them to improve their services or lose their contracts.

He said the performance of contractors ranged between 19 and 48 per cent, and expressed his displeasure about the poor services they rendered in the metropolis. Mr Vanderpuije said GH¢5,209.092 was paid to waste management contractors in 2010 and GH¢4,480,702 in the first half of 2011, leaving a balance of GH¢4,489,106.

The poor performance notwithstanding, he went ahead and signed new contracts with the contractors on Wednesday but warned that they were being given a second chance. He made it clear that they had a 60-day grace period to source funds and to improve their services or else their contracts would be terminated. Mr Vanderpuije said: 93We trusted you and gave you the responsibility which you accepted and we will expect nothing less."

To support his observation of their abysmal performance, the Mayor mad= e reference to statistics of waste collection and management in the 11 sub-metros to the amazement of the contractors. Out of the estimated 400,000 households in the metropolis, only 111,54= 1 had been registered for waste collection, while only 71,148 bins had been distributed.

According to the Mayor, the health of the people would not be sacrificed on the altar of negligence and that was why the Assembly had put in place interventions such as the provision of 5,000 waste bins and the engagement of contractors at the AMA's own expense to help collect waste and prevent outbreak of diseases in the city.

"Under the new contract we cannot intervene; you have 60 days to improve performance and keep the city clean or find your way out." He urged contractors to register households and deliver efficient performance to challenge residents to pay for their services. Nana Ama Adobea, Chief Executive officer of Liberty Waste, on behalf o= f the contractors appealed to the AMA to help them to access soft loans and equipment.

AMA should also help in educating residents to properly dispose of their waste. The contractors involved are Stanley Owusu and Co Ltd, Asadu Royal Waste Ltd, Zoomlion, Liberty Waste Ltd and Meskworld Ltd. The rest are Yafuru waste Ltd, Aryeetey Brothers Co Ltd, La Daben Cleaning Services and Jekora Ventres.