Irrespective of the cry from many Ghanaians for the government to ensure that the capital cities throughout the country are kept clean, snippets of information filtering into the offices of GO indicate that 17 waste contractors, who manage waste in the country, will soon lay down their tools.

Additionally, authoritatively reveal that aside their complete withdrawal of service particularly in the Accra Metropolis the 17 contractors will also embark on the massive demonstration to press home certain demands from a local authority.

The withdrawal of services by the companies, GO has learnt will further complicate waste management in the capital cities and government's efforts to ensure that the cities are clean on a daily basis throughout the country.

The companies include Liberty Waste Limited, Almanuel Company Limited, Golden Falcon Catrol Company Limited, Fknsyd Limited, Yafuru Enterprise Limited, MeskWorld Enterprise, Vicma Waste Company, Ako Waste Management and A.B.C.

The rest are Mohas Trading Company, Yama Waste Service, Daban Cleansing Service, J. Stanley-Owusu Company RO, J. Stanley-Owusu-ML, Jekora Ventures and Asadu Royal.

"Confirming their intention some of the 17 contractors told GO that they are withdrawing their service of management of the waste in the cities, especially in Accra, because the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has failed constantly to settle the over ¢100 billion debt it owes them.

The inability of the AMA to settle the ¢100 billion (GH¢10,000,000) debt the contractors said. has forced them out of business saying that they are now being chased by their bankers due to their inability 10 service loan facilities they acquired from the various banks to execute the job adding that "most of our equipment have broken down but we do not have money to service them."

"We have intended to withdraw our services quietly without notifying the local authorities or government.

We have suffered for far too long. How do they expect us to continue with the management of waste in the system when our companies have ¢100 billion with AMA and they are not paying, they said.

Source: The Ghanaian Observer