Madam Florence S. Kuukyi, the Director of the Metro Public Health Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has disclosed that burning any waste material is punishable by law.
Some of these include plastic garbage, dried leaves, papers, tires, clothing, used sanitary towels, etc.
This is due to the fact that it is one of the pollution sources that create toxic air, which is harmful to everyone around, the individual who is burning as well as the community at large.
In an interview, Madam Kuukyi revealed that the particulate matter emitted into the air during the combustion of these waste products causes lung and heart diseases, cancer, infertility, premature birth, early birth, problems with cognitive development, and even death.
She also revealed during the interview that many people have died from respiratory diseases caused by inhaling air of poor quality and added that aside from the two national laws, the AMA’s Byelaw 2017 forbade people from openly burning waste materials.
“Under the AMA law for instance, a person commits an offense when found to be engaged in open burning, and when found culpable, one is likely to pay a penalty of not less than 100 penalty units (not less than GHS 1,000/USD 100) and not more than 150 penalty units, or sentenced to prison from three to six months or both,” Madam Kuukyi explained.
Madam Kuukyi revealed that from January to July, AMA prosecuted 16 people at the sanitation court in Accra for burning trash in places where it was not permitted, including their houses. This was true despite the minimal resources available.
“We are going to get tough on people who engage in open burning. Air pollution knows no boundaries and people must stop indiscriminate burning,” she cautioned.
Source: Ghana/ Max TV/ Max FM/ Max.com.gh/ Princess Sandra Richardson
