There is an imminent health danger in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern region as workers of Waste Management firm, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd have embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their salaries.
According to the workers, they have not received their salaries for the last six months.
The workers claims that several efforts for management to pay their arrears have fallen on deaf ears hence the decision to lay down their tools and stay at home.
The brunt of the strike by the Zoomlion workers has begun manifesting as refuse have started engulfing the streets.
Waste from markets and stores deposited along the streets are piling up on several streets in the metropolis.
Lorry terminals are the worst affected as piles of waste are doted at the terminals impeding pedestrian and vehicular movement.
The workers on strike are mainly cleaners and waste collectors. This implies that, household waste will also not be collected creating fear among residents.
Residents fear the strike may lead to outbreak of diseases due to the heavy downpours the Municipality is experiencing this rainy season.
The New Juaben Municipal Environmental Officer, Francis Osarfo said, the Municipal Assembly does not owe Zoomlion and has impressed on the Regional Directorate of the company to make everything possible within their means to facilitate contingency measures to mitigate the effect of the strike.
Meanwhile, he has called on residents of the Municipality to reduce waste generation and manage waste generated well and avoid open dumping.
