Domestic solid waste disposal practices: the case of Ahenema Kokobeng community in the Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma District

Water and Sanitation are one of the primary drivers of public health. Sanitation refers to the maintenance of clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent diseases through services such as garbage collection and wastewater disposal. Over two million people do not have access to basic sanitation (2.4 billion) worldwide; they lack safe means of waste disposal. Despite continued efforts to promote sanitation, 40% of the world’s population is still without sanitation. The current environmental sanitation status of Ghana leaves much to be desired. Less than (forty percent) 40% of the urban residents are served by solid waste collection services whiles such schemes are rare in rural areas. Annual solid waste production in Ashanti Region exceeds one million tonnes. Out of this quantity, only a third is collected. The remaining two —thirds is left to impact negatively on the environment and public health. Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma District is largely a rural district with similar domestic waste disposal problems as it pertains in most rural communities in Africa. The incidence of diseases associated with sanitation and waste disposal in particular contributes significantly to morbidity in the district. The main objective of the study is to assess the dynamics of domestic solid waste disposal practices at Kokobeng in the Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma District. The study specifically addressed: the knowledge level as far as solid domestic waste disposal is concerned; how effective the past and present disposal methods have been and its impact on the community’s sanitation in general; the gender and behavioural issues underpinning the act of disposal of solid domestic waste among others. This study is a descriptive type with a cross-sectional design. The Simple Random or Convenience sampling method was employed in the selection of 120 community members aged eighteen years and above and who have lived in the community for the past five years. Three Health Professionals and two Sanitation officials were also interviewed. The study has shown that there is high level of knowledge (79%) about domestic waste disposal. It is also evident that even though the community has departed from past practices of waste disposal, over seventy percent (76.3%) judged that the community is very dirty. They explained the improper handling of waste (29.3%) and leaving waste unattended to (37.5%) account for the major problems related to solid domestic waste disposal. It is however evident mostly young girls aged 5-l0years usually dispose of refuse at the unauthorised sites. Unfortunately, even though the community members know of the problem, the protracted Chieftaincy dispute has led to low community cohesion in attending to the problem. This is evident in the fact that only 33% of the community members attend communal labour and hence has led to the poor and irregular organization of this important community exercise. There is the need to resolve the Chieftaincy conflict to enable the District Assembly in collaboration with authorities of the community to work harmoniously in mobilizing resources to bring about improved sanitation in the Kokobeng community. It has therefore been recommended that Bekwai Traditional Council should expedite steps in resolving the Chieftaincy conflict. This is because the resolution of the dispute is the only key to opening other avenues including building community capacity to mobilize and solve the sanitation problems, particularly that on solid domestic waste disposal.

Source: KNUST