Tamale, Oct. 26 – Residents of Nakpanzoo SIC Quarters in Tamale have appealed to the Metropolitan Assembly to urgently evacuate accumulated refuse near a public toilet facility and provide waste containers to avert a possible disease outbreak.

They said the absence of a refuse container had forced residents to dump waste on the ground, creating insanitary conditions around the facility.

The residents expressed concern about a possible cholera outbreak and called for urgent intervention to protect the community.

The caretaker of the toilet facility, who also manages the refuse disposal site, said the lack of waste containers had made managing the waste difficult.

He appealed to the authorities to provide containers to facilitate proper disposal and collection.

Salima, a resident, said users of the toilet facility sometimes had to step on refuse when entering or leaving the premises.

She said some children defecated on the waste, worsening conditions at the site, and urged the Assembly to address the situation.

Mr Abdul Wasir, another resident, said the community had been without a Zoomlion waste container since last year, leaving residents with no option but to dump rubbish on the ground.

He said the site served a large community, resulting in the accumulation of substantial quantities of waste.

Mr Wasir expressed concern about children playing around the refuse and returning home to eat without washing their hands.

He appealed to Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for the area, the Tamale Mayor and other relevant authorities to support the evacuation of the refuse and the provision of waste containers.

He said the youth were ready to mobilise and assist with the clean-up exercise.

During a visit to the site, Radio Tamale observed children defecating on the refuse dump, while animals roamed around and fed on the waste. Flies also swarmed the area.

The residents called for the immediate clearance of the site and regular waste collection to prevent further accumulation.

By Fuseini Katali Issah