Towards the Development of an Environmental Information System - Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment Study on a Waste dumping site in Kumasi, Ghana

Moses Mensah¹, Frank Ayer²

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, ²Department of Geomatic Engineering (KNUST), Ghana

Email: mymens@gmx.net

The development of an Environmental Information System (EIS) and the planning and management of the existing infrastructure of the city of Kumasi in Ghana requires, among others, the identification, localization and study of waste sites. With the completion of an engineered sanitary landfill site in the city in 2004, it was anticipated that the old dumping sites will be closed to the public. While some have been closed, the Aboabo dumping site, in a suburb of Kumasi is still in use with the potential of having negative environmental impacts on the health of the people in the vicinity of the area as well as on the eco-system.

The main objective of this study was to conduct a preliminary environmental impact assessment in the area close to the dumping site, taking into consideration the fact that people live in the neighbourhood. Since the wastes are dumped in and on the sides of the Aboabo river, there is the risk of pollution. There is also a water borehole close to the river used by the residents of the area, with the danger of pollution from the leachate. The result of the study indicated the lack of environmental education by the residents and high levels of pollution of the river which could impact negatively on the health of the residents, as demonstrated by the results of the questionnaire.

Dr. Moses Mensah

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

mymens@gmx.net