The Association of Informal Waste Workers are challenging Government especially, Authorities in Greater Accra to offer them the needed resources and the city will be clean in only 8 months.
“our commitment during the period is to clear filth anywhere.
Our present operations are regulated with franchise agreement”.
In an interview, Mr. MaX H Jumbo, the General Secretary Informal Waste workers revealed that, the Greater Accra Regional Minister assured to engaged leaders of the Association to look at the way forward on the activities of their members but no engagement or education took place.
He said, it took them by surprise when the Regional Minister came out to announce the ban on tricycles in the cities.
The Minister he mentioned, has come out to say that even though, tricycle operators continue to apply on the major roads after the ban, the indisciplined has reduced drastically.
According to Mr. MaX H Jumbo, the Informal Waste workers are doing their best to solve the problem of indiscipline likewise the issue of waste in the country but said, with all that they are doing, there have not been any effort from the Regional Coordinating Council. “That is our question to the Minister and to the Regional Coordinating Council. That is the answers we want”.
He pointed out that even though, they operate as commercial workers, they are also working with the Metropolitan Assemblies who are the local authorities.
“They are the one giving us the permit and in fact, we cannot work with the Sanitation or Waste Management without a permit. If the permit giving to the Bola Taxi or tricycles to work is against the laws of government, then authorities has to call us and seat down to talk to us”.
He disclosed further that, the Association have more than 5,000 members with 2,000 as mates, making a total membership of 7,000.
“What would be the alternative. Is there any solution to that or is government ready to give us maybe another equipment which is not against the law because, what we are doing is our livelihood .
Mr. MaX Jumbo averred that it is obvious to say that, government want to take out their daily bread from them, “What is the Regional Coordinating Council and the Minister doing to help their people”.
He therefore, entreated the Media to help propagate their message of helping to address sanitation issues confronting the country.
He expressed his disappointment about the Greater Accra Minister’s lack of interest in their activities.
He failed to attend and engagement and workshop with the AMA.
“If the government failed to engage with us as an Association, we would meet and discuss the way forward”.
