Overflowing sewage exposes residents of ‘BBC’ in Tema Community 2 to health risks

According to them, raw sewage overflows from gutters into their homes and the streets, creating an unsanitary environment that exposes them to diseases.

Speaking to Channel One TV in a recent interview, a resident, Araba Sackey, expressed worry about the development, citing the unbearable stench and the risk of waterborne diseases.

“The broken down sewage systems have been left unattended to for years. The situation is unbearable anytime it rains. Our rooms are flooded with water from the sewage system, and the stench is unbearable.

“Sometimes the Assemblyman comes with a truck to pump out the sewage, but the issue keeps recurring. City authorities must find a sustainable solution,” she stated.

Another resident, Hafisatu Issah, said the water from broken down sewage seeps through her room anytime it rains leading to frequent illnesses in her household.

“Water from the broken down sewage drains into my room; because of this problem, eating here has become a challenge. One of my children is even sick, as I speak. The situation is unbearable. We want city authorities to address this problem.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Tema West, Felicia Edem Attipoe, confirmed there was a problem with the sewage system, noting that some residents had built on the sewer lines.

“The community was made for 100 people , now we have 7,000 people living there, so we have problems with the sewage. One of the problems is that the pipes are too small. So, we need to expand it. Some of the pipes are old, we need to change them.

She added, “But the major problem is people have built on the sewer line, and some you can see the manhole in people’s kitchens and the manhole in people’s bedrooms, and this is causing a lot of hazards. When I came in, that was what I was confronted with. Temporarily what we wanted to do is rodding, freeing the pipes, desilting sort of, but it looks like we have to go for the long term.”