Residents of Anlo Afiadenyigba in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region say they are living in fear of a possible health crisis as poor sanitation continues to take a toll on the community.
The river that once sustained their livelihoods through fishing has now become both a refuse dump and an open toilet. With no proper waste disposal or toilet facilities, residents say they are forced to use the very water they depend on for survival as a dumping ground. The result is a foul stench, swarms of flies and mosquitoes, and a rising fear of diseases such as malaria, cholera, and diarrhoea.
“Both the elderly and children defecate at the water body, and anytime you complain, they insult you. Flies settle on our food, and we end up using kerosene to drive them away,” said Atsufoe Kpoha, a resident. “We are pleading with government to help us by providing toilet facilities and a refuse dump to stop this open defecation.”
Another resident, Lucy Setor Mensah, warned that the situation puts not only their community but also the wider public at risk. “If cholera or any related disease attacks us, the whole community could be wiped away. We are fish farmers, and our fish are supplied across the country. This is a national issue, not just a local one.”
Assembly Member Gabriel Kwabla Kwatsikor echoed the call for immediate intervention, describing the conditions as a long-standing crisis that requires urgent attention.
Residents say they remain hopeful that swift government action will provide them with the basic facilities needed to restore sanitation and prevent what they describe as a looming outbreak.
By Gabriel Asempa
