The Pelele River has become a hotspot for the plastic waste crisis.
Every inch of the area is covered in plastic materials, including bottles, sachets, and polythene bags.
Major gutters are clogged, causing concern among residents.
Flooding is a recurring issue in the community; even a slight downpour can leave the area submerged.
Residents are in despair, hoping for a solution to this decades-long problem.
It’s disheartening to see that the river itself is overwhelmed by plastic waste.
Bridges that span the river have their holes blocked thickly by persistent garbage.
One factor worsening the situation is the ongoing, unchecked dumping of waste into the river.
Almost everyone in the area participates, leading to a lack of accountability, as no one is willing to act as a ‘watchman.’
Mubarick Adamu, the assembly member for the area, has pleaded with residents to report offenders for prosecution.
However, the biggest question remains: if nearly everyone is guilty, who will report the others? The familiarity among residents makes it unlikely that anyone will step forward, raising serious concerns.
The community is grappling with the consequences of their actions, leaving the question of blame between city authorities and residents.
Mohammed Ibrahim, a health officer working in the community, has noted that malaria and other illnesses are on the rise due to the polluted state of the Pelele River.
Another troubling issue is that residents often resort to burning waste materials.
Experts like Dr. Pearl Adu Nyarko from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital warn that this practice can lead to respiratory and lung-related health problems.
Despite these risks, some young people in the community continue to burn waste daily, even becoming aggressive when confronted about it.
The assembly member has stated that some residents have died due to the harmful gases released from burning the plastic waste.
Tearfund, a development agency operating in over 50 countries, including Ghana, reports that between 400,000 and one million people die annually worldwide from illnesses associated with improperly managed waste.
The World Health Organisation highlights that over 28,000 premature deaths occur each year in Ghana due to air pollution, with burning waste as a major contributor.
Surprisingly, these alarming statistics do not seem to shake the youth in the community.
Residents of Aboabo No.1 are in search of better waste disposal options but struggle to find accessible solutions.
According to Tearfund, about two billion people globally lack proper waste collection or disposal services.
In Aboabo 1, the available waste container is too small to handle the volume generated by the community, leading some residents to use the Pelele River as an alternative dumping ground.
If effective and practical solutions are not implemented soon, plastic waste will continue to overwhelm the area, resulting in severe health ramifications for the community.
