NJMA complains of huge sanitation cost

Koforidua, March 17, GNA- The New Juaben Municipal Assembly is now engulfed with huge sanitation and sewage bills, owing to the disregard for laid down rules for waste disposal by some residents and commuters. Currently, the assembly spends more than 90 million cedis monthly on fuelling waste management vehicles, while huge resources are also expended in paying conservancy labourers and maintenance of sanitation equipment. The Finance Officer of the Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Ayim-Antwi, speaking at an Eastern Regional sensitization durbar on taxation, organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), explained that, the huge sanitation bill was a drain on the assembly's capacity for an enhanced development. He noted that, although the assembly has been efficient in tax collection, the proceeds normally expended on waste management in the Municipality. Such a development, he told the participants, was a drawback on the assembly's drive to initiate additional developments projects and invest in areas that will generate jobs and enhance the competitiveness of the municipality in attracting investors. Mr Ayim-Antwi was at lost as to the extent to which people relegate sanitation issues to the background and cited instances where human excreta and food waste were left on some main streets although the assembly had make tremendous progress in providing toilet facilities and waste collection joints at vantage points in the municipality. The Finance Officer pleaded with residents to change their attitude on waste management and help keep their environment clean to prevent the outbreak of epidemics. He said there is need for a change in attidude to make people aware of the need to dispose of their waste at designated places.