Standoff over contract worsens sanitation at Kaneshie Market

Traders at the Kaneshie Market in Accra continue to struggle and scout for a convenient place to dispose of refuse while two ultra-modern waste compactors at the market go waste

The market authorities say the machines, which were brought in to purposely deal with the waste collection problem in the market, are still under lock and key because there is a contractual tussle between the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the service providers.

Former Sanitation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda is said to have signed an agreement with Tidy Up Ghana Ltd, owners and operators of the waste compactors, but the new minister Cecelia Abena Dapaah is claimed to be seeking a review of the agreement, hence a standoff.

Attempts by 3news.com to get answers from the  Ministry on Monday, December 31, 2018 was unsuccessful as a deputy minister, Michael Gyato, said he would need time to seek clarification on the matter.

But manager of the Kaneshie Market Complex, Edmund Kofi Duffour Addae confirmed there are indeed issues between the Sanitation Ministry and the service provider that needs to be sorted out before the compactors can be operational.

“I believe it is not yet fully completed, MOU have been signed and just before the change of offices in terms of the former minister [Dr.] Kofi Adda and the new minister Madam Cecillia Dapaah, I believe there is something that needs to be ironed out between the outgoing and incoming minister with the relevant company ”, he disclosed.

Meanwhile, users of the market including traders and drivers’ union are not happy with the development which has caused the sanitation situation at the market to worsen by the day.

By 3news.com|Ghana