By Aji Fatou Faal
Some 6000 bags of fertilizer kept under lock and keys for ten years at the Mansa Konko Area Council in Soma were discovered recently during a visit by the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment.
Ansumana Sambou, director of planning at Mansakonko Area Council, informed the national assembly members that the fertilizer, which has been packed there since 2007, has now turned into an environmental hazard to the area and its people, saying it should be removed immediately.
Lamin MS Fatty, regional health labour supervisor for sanitation at the Council, revealed that no one knows who ordered for the fertilizer to be kept there but he could remember during the Jammeh regime, some armed personnel were once sent to the Council to change the padlocks of the store but no one from the Council was ever consulted about it.
Fatty disclosed that they don’t know who owns the fertilizer up to now. According to him, at least two animals died due to odour of the toxic coming out from the store.
He called on the National Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Fire and Rescue Services among other relevant institutions to dispose the fertilizers that have turned into toxic.
Landing B. Sanneh, chairman of the Mansa Konko Area Council, revealed that all efforts would be done to remove the fertilizer from the vicinity of the council and properly disposed of.
