EPA pursues contempt case against AMA over ‘Lavender Hill’

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it is pursuing a contempt case against the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) over its failure to close down the Lavender Hill sewage facility at Korle Gonno.

A statement from the EPA’s public affairs department said the Lavender Hill facility was still operational after a court order to shut down the facility in February 2014 had been extended to 30th December 2014, to give the AMA ample time.

An order from the High Court’s fast track Division issued on 12th February 2014, sought to halt the dumping of untreated sewage at the site within seven days but was extended upon the appeal of AMA.

The statement said the restraining order had itself been sought by the EPA due to the “recalcitrance” of the AMA and its failure to heed an enforcement notice in 2013, filed by EPA after poor attendance by AMA officials to the discussion of the gradual decommissioning and closure of Lavender Hill.

The EPA noted that the sewage treatment plant established at Mudor (Jamestown) by AMA and Slamson Ghana Limited, a private liquid waste management company, was only capable of handling about 40 per cent of cesspit trucks per day.

According to EPA, prospects were bright for AMA and Slamson Ghana to establish a treatment plant at Lavender Hill with the aid of Danida Business Finance, an organization approached by AMA and Slamson Ghana, for financial support.

The Agency said however, that the sewage treatment plant at Mudor had been established “without the requisite permit” from EPA.

They have therefore recommended that the AMA register the project, obtain a permit and ensure that the quality of the final effluent discharge abides by the EPA’s effluent guidelines: biochemical oxygen demand should be less than or equal to 50 milligrammes per litre (BOD ≤ 50mg/l) and chemical oxygen demand should be less than or equal to 250 mg/l (COD ≤ 250mg/l).

Source: GNA