Accra, March 25, – Residents of Chorkor, a coastal enclave in the Greater Accra Region, have raised alarms over deteriorating sanitation in the community, pointing to clogged gutters and open defecation as key drivers of flooding and disease outbreaks.
Mr Andrews Nii Armah a fisherman described how rainwater frequently carries garbage into blocked gutters, many of which are also used as dumping points by some residents.
“The gutters begin at Kaneshie, pass through our community, and end in the sea. Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken, and this has serious environmental and health consequences,” he said.
Resident Naa Lamiley attributed the worsening conditions to both rainfall and human activities, noting that sanitation in the area continues to decline.
Fishmonger Naa Shika acknowledged community contributions to the problem through indiscriminate waste disposal. “When it rains, trash clogs the gutters, breeding mosquitoes and spreading diseases,” she said, urging behavioral change to prevent further deterioration.
Health worker Mr Emmanuel Bodua, a staff nurse at the Presbyterian Hospital, Aburi, explained that poor sanitation exposes residents to cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and other serious illnesses. He stressed that inadequate hygiene contributes to thousands of deaths annually and worsens malnutrition and stunting among children under five.
Citing UNICEF data, Mr Bodua called for intensified hygiene education, emphasizing regular handwashing with soap, provision of clean water, and access to safe and private toilet facilities. He urged government and local authorities to act decisively to improve sanitation infrastructure in the community.
GHBUSS
March 25, 2026
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