Mankessim-Accra Lorry Station Crisis: Choked Gutters, Public Health Peril, and a Call for Action

The bustling Mankessim-Accra lorry station, a vital transport and commercial hub in Ghana’s Central Region, is grappling with a severe environmental and public health emergency. Choked gutters overflowing with solid waste and stagnant water have created a breeding ground for disease, endangering the livelihoods of thousands of traders and travelers. This report examines the root causes, immediate impacts, and potential solutions to this escalating crisis.

Introduction: A Hub Under Siege

A foul, pervasive odor hangs heavy in the air at the Mankessim-Accra lorry station, a constant reminder of the environmental disaster unfolding in this key economic zone of the Mfantseman Municipality. This critical interchange, serving both local and international travelers from across the ECOWAS subregion, is also the site of a vibrant market. However, the very gutters meant to channel stormwater are now clogged with plastic waste, organic debris, and other refuse, transforming them into stagnant, toxic ponds. The situation poses a direct threat to public health, economic activity, and the regional reputation of this historic trading centre. For the vendors, many of whom are taxpayers, the daily struggle against the stench, mosquitoes, and disease risk has become unsustainable.

Key Points at a Glance

• Primary Hazard: Gutters at the Mankessim-Accra lorry station are severely choked with mixed solid waste, primarily plastics, causing complete drainage failure.
• Public Health Threat: Stagnant, contaminated water is a breeding ground for disease vectors like mosquitoes (malaria, dengue) and rats, and facilitates the spread of water-borne diseases (cholera, typhoid).
• Economic Impact: The unhygienic conditions deter customers, damage goods, and threaten the viability of businesses for hundreds of market traders and transport operators.
• Governance Failure: Traders report repeated complaints to the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly with no lasting resolution, indicating a gap in waste management service delivery and enforcement.
• Call to Action: Immediate, coordinated intervention is required from municipal authorities, environmental agencies, transport unions, and the community to desilt gutters, enforce anti-littering laws, and establish sustainable waste collection systems.

Background: Mankessim’s Strategic and Commercial Importance

A Historic Trading Nexus

Mankessim is not just a town; it is the ceremonial capital of the Mfantseman Traditional Area and a historically significant commercial nerve centre. Its famous weekly market, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, has long attracted merchants and buyers from across Ghana, including the major cities of Accra and Kumasi. This market day tradition fuels a massive, informal economy that supports thousands of families.

The Lorry Station: A Crossroads of Commerce and Travel

The Mankessim-Accra lorry station is a pivotal node on one of Ghana’s busiest transport corridors. It serves as a terminus for tro-tros (minibuses) and coaches plying the route between the Central Region and the national capital, Accra. Furthermore, it is a key stop for longer-distance buses and shared taxis connecting to the northern regions and neighbouring West African countries within the ECOWAS zone. This constant flow of people and goods makes the immediate environment a high-traffic, high-waste generation zone.

The Convergence of Waste Streams

The area combines multiple waste-generating activities: food vending, fruit sales, roasted plantain and yam (koko) stalls, passenger litter, and the general refuse from the sprawling market. Without adequate, enforced waste collection and disposal infrastructure, this waste inevitably finds its way into the open drainage channels that run alongside the main road and through the station.

Analysis: Dissecting the Crisis

The Visible Symptoms: A Degrading Environment

First-hand accounts paint a grim picture. Gutters are completely blocked with layers of plastic bags, bottles, food wrappers, and organic matter. This blockage prevents any flow of rainwater or runoff, leading to permanent stagnant pools. The decomposition of organic waste in this stagnant water produces potent, unhealthy gases. The water itself becomes a dark, viscous soup contaminated with pathogens from human and animal waste, food remnants, and chemical pollutants.

Direct Public Health Consequences

This environment is a textbook example of a public health hazard. The stagnant water is an ideal breeding site for Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes, dramatically increasing the risk of malaria, dengue, and yellow fever outbreaks. The contaminated water and soil can harbour bacteria and parasites causing cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery. The presence of rodents and other pests, which thrive in such conditions, adds the risk of diseases like leptospirosis. For vendors like fruit seller Ama Kwansmah, who handles raw produce inches from this toxic water, the risk of contamination is daily and direct, threatening both her health and that of her customers.

Socio-Economic Ramifications

The crisis extends beyond health. The overpowering stench repels customers, directly impacting sales for all vendors in the vicinity. Merchants must handle their goods—fresh produce, cooked foods—in close proximity to the pollution, risking product spoilage and loss of consumer confidence. The area’s reputation as a clean, safe destination is tarnished, potentially affecting tourism and broader commercial activity. The psychological toll on traders, who feel their health and livelihoods are undervalued, is significant and leads to frustration and a sense of abandonment.

Root Causes and Systemic Failures

While visible waste is the immediate problem, the root causes are systemic:

1. Inadequate Waste Collection Infrastructure: Insufficient waste bins, irregular collection schedules, and lack of accessible final disposal sites (like engineered landfills) force people to dump waste in the nearest available place—the gutters.
2. Poor Urban Planning and Drainage Design: Many drainage systems in growing Ghanaian towns were not designed for current population densities and waste volumes. They are often too narrow, shallow, and lack proper grit chambers or traps.
3. Weak Enforcement of Sanitation Bye-Laws: Laws against indiscriminate littering and dumping exist (e.g., under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851)), but enforcement is typically inconsistent and under-resourced. Fines are rarely imposed, and monitoring is lax.
4. Fragmented Responsibility: Ambiguity between the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly (MMA) (responsible for local sanitation), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (regulatory oversight), and transport unions (managing station cleanliness) can lead to buck-passing and inaction.
5. Behavioral and Cultural Factors: A deep-seated “not-in-my-backyard” mentality and lack of sustained public education on waste segregation and proper disposal contribute to the problem.

Practical Advice and Actionable Solutions

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-stakeholder approach with immediate and long-term actions.

For the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly (MMA) and Government Agencies:

• Emergency Desilting: Mobilize resources for an immediate, mechanical desilting and cleaning operation of all gutters in and around the lorry station and market area.
• Install Adequate Waste Infrastructure: Place robust, covered waste bins with clear segregation (organic vs. plastic) at strategic points within the station and market. Ensure they are collected daily.
• Enforce Bye-Laws: Launch a visible enforcement campaign with sanitation patrols. Impose and publicize fines for littering and illegal dumping to create deterrence.
• Review and Upgrade Drainage: Commission an engineering audit of the drainage system. Where necessary, deepen, widen, and line gutters to improve flow and ease of maintenance. Incorporate traps to capture solid waste before it clogs main channels.
• Community Engagement: Establish a permanent “Market and Station Sanitation Committee” with representation from traders, transport unions, assembly officials, and traditional leaders to oversee daily cleanliness.

For Traders and Transport Operators:

• Organize Self-Help Clean-Up Days: While demanding government action, unions and trader associations can organize weekly voluntary clean-up exercises to keep the immediate surroundings clean and demonstrate ownership.
• Practice Source Separation: Separate waste at the point of generation. Keep organic waste (peelings, food scraps) separate from plastics and other dry waste to facilitate easier collection and potential composting.
• Use Designated Disposal Points: Commit to using the provided waste bins exclusively and discourage customers from littering.
• Document and Escalate: Keep a log of complaints made to the Assembly. If ignored, escalate to the Regional Coordinating Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Use media and social media responsibly to highlight the issue.

For the General Public and Travelers:

• Do Not Litter: The simplest and most effective individual action. Hold onto wrappers and bottles until a bin is found.
• Report Offenders: Politely challenge or report individuals or businesses caught dumping waste into gutters.
• Support Clean Initiatives: Participate in and promote community sanitation campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is legally responsible for cleaning the gutters at the lorry station?

Primary responsibility lies with the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly (MMA) under the Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936) and the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). The Assembly is mandated to ensure public health and sanitation in its jurisdiction. However, the transport unions and traders who generate the waste share a co-responsibility to keep their immediate premises clean and use proper waste disposal methods.

What diseases are most likely to spread from these choked gutters?

The primary risks are from mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever. The stagnant, contaminated water also significantly increases the risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and various forms of gastroenteritis. Rodent-borne diseases like leptospirosis are also a major concern.

Has this problem been reported to authorities before?

Yes. According to multiple trader accounts in the original report, complaints have been lodged repeatedly with the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly. The persistence of the problem despite these complaints points to a failure in the Assembly’s response mechanism, likely due to resource constraints, prioritization issues, or ineffective follow-through on enforcement.

What legal actions can be taken if the Assembly fails to act?

Affected parties can:

1. Submit a formal, written petition to the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly with copies to the Central Regional Coordinating Council.
2. Lodge a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the public health nuisance and potential violation of environmental standards.
3. Seek judicial review by applying to a court for an order of mandamus to compel the Assembly to perform its statutory duty.
4. Engage with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on grounds of administrative injustice and failure to provide basic sanitation services.

Are there any successful models for cleaning such hubs in Ghana?

Yes. Some successful models involve public-private partnerships. For example, in parts of Accra, market associations partner with waste management companies for daily collection, funded by a small levy on traders. The “Clean City” initiative in some municipalities combines strict enforcement with public education. The key is consistent funding, clear accountability, and active community participation.

Conclusion: A Tipping Point for Mankessim

The choked gutters at the Mankessim-Accra lorry station are more than an eyesore; they are a quantifiable public health crisis and a severe impediment to economic development. The situation represents a profound failure in urban waste management and municipal governance. While the traders and transport operators bear the brunt of the impact daily, the long-term consequences—potential disease outbreaks, loss of commercial reputation, and environmental degradation—will affect the entire Mfantseman Municipality and the Central Region.

The cries for help from vendors like Ama Kwansmah must translate into a coordinated, urgent, and sustained response. This requires the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly to move beyond ad-hoc reactions and implement a comprehensive sanitation plan with dedicated resources and strict enforcement. It also requires the transport unions and trader associations to formalize their own waste management commitments. The historic vitality of Mankessim’s market and its strategic role as a transport hub deserve a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. The time for decisive action is now, before the next heavy rains wash disease into the community or a full-blown outbreak occurs.

Sources and Further Reading

• Ghana. Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). Accra: Government of Ghana, 2012. (Legally mandates local authorities to maintain sanitary conditions).
• Ghana. Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936). Accra: Government of Ghana, 2016. (Defines functions of Municipal Assemblies).
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana. National Environmental Policy. Various editions. (Outlines national framework for waste management).
• Mfantseman Municipal Assembly. Medium-Term Development Plan. (Should outline sanitation strategies and budgets).
• World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines for Sanitation and Health. 2018. (Provides international standards for safe waste disposal and disease prevention).
• Ghana Health Service. Epidemiological Reports on Cholera and Malaria. (For data on disease prevalence linked to poor sanitation).
• Various Ghanaian news outlets (e.g., Graphic Online, GhanaWeb, DailyGuide) for reported cases of similar drainage and market sanitation issues in other urban centres like Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi, providing comparative context.