Blocked gutters, snake infestations: Damongo residents demand lasting waste solutions

Residents of Attributo-Abinga Kura, a suburb of Damongo in the Savannah Region, have raised concerns about the persistent dumping of waste in gutters designed for drainage in the area.

The two large gutters, intended to manage the area’s drainage system, have become choked with refuse. Residents fear the resulting stench and environmental pollution could exacerbate the risk of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

Speaking to Channel One TV’s Malik Gazari, some residents expressed their frustration over the long-standing issue, which they say has been largely ignored by others in the community.

Rabi Alhassan, a resident, admitted to contributing to the problem due to the lack of alternative waste disposal options.

“Indeed, we dump our refuse in this gutter, and it is because we don’t have any container or other place to dump our refuse. I dump my refuse in the gutter, so when I see others do the same, I am not able to complain. People come from as far as the police station or even the market to dump their refuse here because there is no other place. Because of that, we are not able to sleep due to the stench from the gutter, especially when it rains. You either have to put on your fan or wait till the rain stops before you can sleep,” she explained.

Another resident, Mohammed Suraj, shared how the issue directly impacts his household.

“This is my house, and any time it rains, we grapple with the debris that the rainwater carries. Because the gutter is choked with refuse, all the waste stops at this point. I used to clean it, but now the place has become dangerous because it breeds snakes,” he lamented.

Inusah Karim, the Assembly Member for Attributo-Abinga Kura Electoral Area, said he has taken steps to address the issue by engaging the Municipal Assembly.

“There is ongoing education on how residents dump their refuse and waste indiscriminately. How we dump our refuse affects us a lot. Sometimes you try to educate them on appropriate measures, but they often do not take it seriously. Due to the politics in the area, some tag you when you try to address the issue.

“However, as the Assembly Member for this area, I have forwarded our grievances to the Assembly and also wrote a letter to the Urban Roads Authority. They came here, surveyed, and promised to work on drainage along the gutter. That is where we are in addressing the matter,” Karim stated.

Meanwhile, Zakaria Budali, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, revealed plans to provide communal containers for waste disposal in areas without such facilities.