Residents of Ho Dome in the Ho Municipality are raising serious concerns over a massive refuse dump that has been left unattended for months, warning that Ho widely known as the “Oxygen City” for its clean environment risks becoming a disease city if urgent action is not taken.
The growing heap of waste shares a direct boundary with a public toilet facility, creating what residents describe as a dangerous health time bomb. A visit by our Reporter Christian Ahodie Yaw indicate that the refuse containers that previously held the waste have been completely destroyed, leaving garbage piled high and spreading across the area. With no regular evacuation, portions of the waste are often burned, filling the air with thick smoke and an unbearable stench.
Residents say the situation worsens during rainfall, as waste water flows into nearby surroundings, increasing the risk of cholera, diarrhoea, malaria and other sanitation-related diseases. An estimated 10,000 residents in Ho Dome are said to be living in fear of a possible disease outbreak if authorities fail to intervene.
The adjoining public toilet facility is also reportedly in poor condition. Though parts of it are occasionally emptied, residents claim large sections remain full, compounding the sanitation crisis. The proximity of untreated human waste to the refuse heap has intensified public health concerns.
Community members are accusing the Ho Municipal Assembly of neglecting its sanitation responsibilities. According to them, the Assembly has not taken decisive steps to remove the waste despite previous complaints and media attention on the issue.
“This is no longer the Ho Oxygen City we are proud of. The smoke, the smell, and the filth are threatening our health. If nothing is done immediately, we may soon record serious disease outbreaks,” a resident lamented.
The residents are therefore calling on municipal authorities to urgently clear the refuse, replace the destroyed containers, fully empty and maintain the toilet facility, and institute strict sanitation monitoring to prevent further deterioration.
For the people of Ho Dome, the warning is clear: act now to protect public health or risk watching the Oxygen City lose its name and reputation.
Residents are saying that the MCE and his team are sleeping on their job and they should wake up quickly otherwise, they will call for change. Our Reporter will keep eyes on the situation and keep public updated.
Credit: Christian Ahodie Yaw
