THE KORLE LAGOON IN DISTRESS; THE STRESS OF URBAN SOLID WASTE IN ACCRA, GHANA.

AGLANU MAWULI LESLIE AND DIVINE ODAME APPIAH

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI

GHANA GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2012KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI

1ST TO 4TH August, 2012

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Introduction The stress of urban solid waste Profile of study area Methodology Results and discussions Conclusion Recommendation

INTRODUCTION

The rapid urbanization in coastal areas particularly in Accra have far exceeded the capacity of metropolitan authorities to cope with its attendant environmental stress.

It is estimated that throughout the country only about 10% of solid wastes generated are properly disposed-off annually.

THE STRESS OF URBAN SOLID WASTE

The catchment of Korle lagoon has been associated high population density with intensive land use (Kakari et al 2006).

The increase in uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization has

resulted to the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste. (Porter et al., 1997: 9; Chazan, 2002: 1; Wetherall, 2003: 1).

The recent proliferation of plastic bags for packaging have seriously aggravated the negative impact of solid waste menace.

 

UNCONTROLLED AND UNPLANNED URBANIZATION

THE STRESS OF URBAN SOLID WASTE CONT. The Lagoon is heavily silted, the outlet is often

blocked and the water fails to flow into the sea fast enough to avoid becoming stagnant (Boadi and Kuitunene, 2002).

  The shallowness and grossly polluted state of

the lagoon has rendered it unsuitable for economic activities since the 1960’s (Biney and Amuzu, 1995; Abraham et al., 2006).

In 1995 the International Development Research Center referred to it as “one of the most polluted places on earth”

PROFILE/MAP OF THE STUDY AREA

METHODOLOGY

Quantitative and qualitative research method both field and secondary data were used.

Sampling Design: A simple random sampling technique was used to select

124 respondents from a population of 962,183 (GSS, 2000) using a sample size formula by (Gomez and John, 2010)

Survey mechanism: Partially Pre-Coded Questionnaire, Key Informants Interviews with WMD & AMA Laboratory analysis of water samples for: TSS, TDS,

DO, pH, Eutrophic levels and Heavy metals etc,

THEORETICAL MODEL OF THE STUDY

Adapted and modified from Barder, 2012

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Ghana generates about 4.5 million metric

tons of solid waste annually but only about 10% of it is properly disposed-off (Mensah, 2005).

Statistics provided by the EPA in 2000, showed that the AMA, was only able to collect about 55% of solid waste generated within the city (EPA, 2000).

Accra generates 2,500 tonnes of solid waste per day but only 1,500 tonnes are collected at community waste collection points (WMD, 2012)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONT.

About 60 percent of AMA live in the catchment of the Korle Lagoon (Abraham et al., 2006).

About 76.6% and 55.5% of the population in the catchment of the Korle lagoon generates sachets/plastics and organic matter respectively daily.

34.7% use public waste collection containers 65.3% uses “bola men” and open dump sites

Use of “bola men” for daily disposal

COMMUNITY WASTE COLLECTION POINTS

AN OPEN DUMPSITE BY THE KORLE LAGOON

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONT.

Solid waste disposal at pubic places 14% in public litter bins 30% by littering 56% dispose-off their solid waste

in drains/gutters

THE KORLE LAGOON ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECT (KLERP)

CONCLUSIONS

High Population pressure and negative attitude towards the environment

Poor maintenance culture Waste management companies have mainly

been engaged in collection and semi-controlled dumping.

Lack of funds and the difficulty in acquiring land for disposal  

RECOMMENDATIONS

Promotion of the use of paper bags as well as public education by the AMA and the EPA

The government in collaboration with the waste management companies should provide adequate public waste facilities and ensure frequent collection and proper disposal

Capable companies should empower by the government to create ready markets for recyclable solid wastes

Government should contract competent companies to carry out frequent dredging of the lagoon

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:Will Accra without filth be a reality or a mirage and will the Korle lagoon still be called a lagoon in the next decade ?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR AUDIENCE