Ibrahim Suleiman is struggling to come to terms with the alarming size of mosquitoes around the Pelele River in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
“There’s a mosquito here; if it bites you and you see it, you might cry. We’re suffering, bro,” Ibrahim laments.
In a yet-to-be-released documentary on the health impact of plastic waste dubbed “Plastic Peril,” the 32-year-old resident of Aboabo says life has become unbearable due to the prevalence of mosquitoes, which frequently cause illness among residents.
Currently, Ibrahim’s child is indisposed as a result of this issue.
The area is inundated with plastic waste, including bottles, sachets, and polythene bags.
Major gutters are clogged, raising concerns among the community.
Flooding is a recurring problem, even a slight downpour can leave the area submerged.
Residents are in despair, hoping for a solution to this decades-long crisis.
It’s disheartening to see the river overwhelmed by plastic waste.
Bridges spanning the river have their holes blocked by persistent garbage.
One factor exacerbating the situation is the ongoing, unchecked dumping of waste into the river.
Ibrahim, a scrap dealer, often wants to dispose of his waste in a nearby container but sometimes lacks money and resorts to burning it instead.
This practice has negatively impacted not only his neighbors but also his own son.
After taking his child to the hospital, Ibrahim learned that the sickness was caused by inhaling harmful gases released from burning plastic waste.
“They charge a fee to dump waste in the Zoomlion container. Sometimes we don’t have the money, so we have to burn the waste instead. If you inhale this smoke, you will get sick. I took my child to the hospital because of the smoke,” he indicated.
The young man is worried about the situation, but finding a solution has become a significant challenge, as complaints to authorities over the years have fallen on deaf ears.
Hundreds of other residents have also been affected by the indiscriminate dumping and burning of waste materials.
For Ramatu Abdul-Ganiu, a food seller located on the bank of the Pelele River, her daughter is currently suffering from malaria due to the mosquito infestation.
She fears falling ill herself, as she may not have the funds for treatment for both of them.
“You can’t sit here until 10 PM because of the mosquitoes. My child is sick with malaria. If I also fall ill, where will I find money for treatment? She quizzed rhetorically.
Mohammed Ibrahim, a health officer in the community, observes a rise in malaria and other illnesses due to the polluted state of the Pelele River.
Assembly Member for the community, Mubarick Adamu, states that the challenges are worsening day after day, with some locals having succumbed to the situation.
“Some asthma patients have died due to the smoke from the continuous burning of waste here. At the hospital, some people were asked whether they smoke. It’s leading to kidney and other health problems,” he said.
The residents of Aboabo No. 1 have struggled for decades, yet little meaningful action has been taken to address the issue.
On June 15, 2018, Ghana’s then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that work had begun on desilting the Pelele River and constructing major drains in the community through the Zongo Development Ministry.
However, after his eight-year tenure, little has changed.
In Aboabo 1, the waste container provided is insufficient for the community’s needs, compelling some residents to resort to dumping their waste in the Pelele River.
If timely and viable solutions are not put in place, the accumulation of plastic waste will persist, posing significant health risks to the community.
