‘Mismanaged’ Spanner bus stop now open defecation area [Photos]

The Spanner bus stop along the Liberation Road in Accra seems to be growing into a convenient area for homeless persons to openly defecate following the failure of city authorities to deal with the growing level of waste there.

The area, which is only a few meters away from the Kotoka International Airport, is among the many parts of Accra that have been turned into a dump for domestic waste.

When Citi News visited the area on Tuesday morning, the pungent smell created by the activities of some homeless persons who had taken advantage of the sprawling waste to defecate there was evident.

The situation poses serious environmental and health problems to the thousands of passengers who commute from and alight at the bus stop each day.

On Tuesday, 4 waste bins, whose contents were spilling to the floor were seen at the bus stop.

A trader who spoke to Citi News said, cleaners from Zoomlion Ghana were responsible for the piles of waste situated at the bus stop.

“Most of the waste here is from the Zoomlion cleaners. After collecting waste from the streets including areas around the Accra Mall, they come and dump everything here in anticipation of its being transported by their waste trucks. The squatters along the rail line also come and dump their domestic waste here…. The last time when I queried someone, he asked me whether that was my home,” he said.

Another fruit seller added that “Usually when I come here at dawn, I see people with toilet rolls, who come here to defecate…. Right under the overhead bridge. Those of us who sell here are those who even make that place clean,” she said.

The bus stop is a prime area within the Accra Mall, Villagio, Kotoka International Airport enclave. It links areas such as Legon, East Legon, Airport and Spintex.

Ghana’s problem with filth is well documented, with plastic waste noted as a major sanitation problem nationwide.

The capital, Accra is inundated with waste and uncollected garbage despite promises by various assemblies to improve the situation.

The sight of refuse dumped on the streets or on pavements is not uncommon, with the rubbish sometimes being left by waste management companies.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017 pledged to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his tenure in office but given the current situation, that appears to be in doubt.

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By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana