Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - Residents of the Accra Metropolis have identified provision of better places of convenience, improvement in sanitation and drainage as well as refuse and solid waste disposal services as their priorities of concern.

In addition, provision of water, public markets, basic education and roads were other infrastructure and services needed most by the residents.

These were the outcome of a World Bank funded survey dubbed, "Consultative Citizens Report Card" undertaken in the Accra Metropolis between October and December last year.

It revealed that most houses had no toilet facilities while majority used insanitary toilets like pit and pan latrines, all of which had been abolished by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

About 4,000 households were interviewed during the survey intended to help ascertain the views of residents on the performance of AMA's administration to enable the city authorities to continue to provide improved services to residents.

Ms Magali Bongrand, Chief Executive Officer, Instinct Media, who undertook the survey, said the population of Accra was 3.5 million with a growth rate of 4.4 per cent per annum, which meant the city was growing constantly yearly.

The survey revealed that 68 per cent of residents were connected to water services while 43 per cent out of the figure were not paying their water bills.

On the issue of refuse collection, majority thought the city was dirty while only 49 per cent of resident had their refuse collected from home.

Three quarters of households without home refuse collection were willing to pay money for their refuse to be collected by the agencies involved.

Majority of the residents were also dissatisfied with market facilities while 66 per cent of residents were dissatisfied with the road networks in their areas.

In response, Accra Mayor Dr Alfred Vanderpuijie, said AMA was providing the city with 43 toilet facilities by the end of October this year to serve the needs of the public only, stressing that those toilets should not serve as residential facilities.

He said all landlords and landladies should ensure they provided toilet facilities to their tenants to avoid being prosecuted by the AMA because very soon nine sanitation courts would be established within the metropolis.

The Accra Mayor said AMA was providing 5,000 dustbins for distribution to residents within the metropolis by identified refuse collection agencies free of charge.

He said AMA was also in the process of cementing the floor of markets, provide security lighting and proper drainage at market centres to ensure proper sanitary conditions.

Dr Vanderpuijie said hawking in Accra was illegal and that a new bye-law against patronising hawking activities within the city centre would be passed by the close of this week to help eliminate it.

He emphasised the resolve of AMA to enforce its bye-laws with assistance from the police to ensure orderliness and cleanliness within the capital city, adding "we want an Accra that would stand the test of time".