The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has announced an upward review of fees for garbage collection in the Accra Metropolis.

‘It takes immediate effect. The first class areas [are] GH₵ 100, the second class areas...GH₵ 60,the third and fourth class areas -- GH₵20 and then the industrial entities will pay GH₵ 200 and the commercial areas will pay GH₵ 150,’’ he announced.

The first class areas are the residential areas, the third class the slums. The second class areas fall between these two.

The Accra Mayor made the announcement on Friday in Accra.

According to the AMA boss, the assembly has had to review the fees upward to ensure that waste management contractors are well resourced to do their work and execute their core mandate.

He noted also that with the new fees, refuse collection contractors will be able to acquire all the equipment needed to enhance the delivery of their job, as well as pay their employees properly.

“What this means is that we expect the waste management contractors to beef up their job performance and to be able to perform very well and improve the environmental sanitation standards on the ground,’’ he told citifmonline.com.

Meanwhile the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council has established a Sanitation Task Force to ensure improved collection of refuse in the metropolis.

Speaking in Accra, the Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo said the Regional Coordinating Council, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in collaboration with the Regional Health Directorate and other stakeholders to set up the task force to fight the cholera outbreak.

Mr. Afotey-Agbo noted that the setting up of the Sanitation Task Force has been necessitated due t the cholera outbreak. As at 21st August 2014, 6154 cases of cholera have been reported in the region with 51 deaths.

‘’The continuous increase in cases [cholera] ad the attendant deaths are unacceptable and require urgent steps to contain further spread,’’ the minister stated.

He also announced that from Wednesday, August 27, 2014 an execrcise to distribute free bins to the general public will be launched.

Mr. Afotey-Agbo noted that the present cholera situation calls for the concerted effort, hence all should contribute in addressing the challenges bykeeping themselves and the environment clean.