RESIDENTS OF KAKASUNANKA APPEAL TO TMA (PAGE 18, JAN 18, 2011)

Residents of Kakasunanka near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis have called on the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) to rescind it’s decision to demolish a 12-seater public place of convenience constructed in 2004 by the Assembly because of its location.
They have also appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to release the 22-seater Jubilee toilet facility which is 90 per cent complete and located at Kakasunanka, to serve the needs of the people including the disabled instead of placing a ban on it at the detriment of residents.
The Jubilee toilet facility has 22 seats with designs for the disabled and was started in 2007 but was closed down by the Ghana at 50 Commission of Enquiry to enable it investigate the Commission.
According to interviews conducted at Kakasunanka by the Daily Graphic, the community which has a large population does not have a single public toilet facility and therefore,the situation has created insanitary conditions in the community.
They claimed that the abandoned ten-seater facility which served the people was constructed in 2004 by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly but had to be abandoned on the instructions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after a month use because it was wrongfully located .
It was observed that people in the community have resorted to other means of attending to nature’s call because of lack of such amenities.
The Daily Graphic learnt that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly(TMA) had ordered the demolition of the facility which had for the past six years been abandoned in the bush.
According to the Assembly Member of the area, Mr Samuelson Allenge, the Ghana at 50 project was initiated through the Tema Metropolitan Assembly for the Metropolis in 2007 and was located at Kakasunanka because of the availability of land .
He said the 22-seater water closet facility had part of it designed for the disabled in the community and, therefore, could have benefited the capable and incapacitated persons living in the community .
Mr Allenge noted that because of its importance, the people appealed to the Ghana at 50 Commission to grant them the opportunity to complete the project which is left with only a few fittings.
He disclosed that water and light had been connected to the structures and it had doors, windows and seat pads well fitted .
Mr Allenge noted that request to complete the project was not met .
He said the people at Kakasunanka earlier in 2004 had access to the 12-seater toilet facility but were stopped from it’s use by the EPA which Mr Allenge stated was ‘uncalled for ’ because pipelines which serve the people of Tema were far from the facility.
Mr Allenge said the Kakasunanka community is one of the peri-urban areas in the Tema Metropolitan Area which has not seen much development and called on the TMA to extend its development activities to the area.
The Planning Officer of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Kwaku Taylor Appiah, when contacted explained that the location of the facility should have been inspected and confirmed as favourable before the start of the project .
He said those who executed the project might not be available to explain the circumstances that led to the order from the EPA to lock up the facility.