Residents and workers at Emena, a suburb of Kumasi say agro chemicals being employed by vegetable farmers are taking a toll on their health.
Vegetable farmers close to the Emena Primary and JHS have been accused of excessive use of agro chemicals which they say contaminates the air and affects their eyes and skin.
Teachers at the school complain they are experiencing respiratory problems which they attribute to the agro chemicals. Some say they have to close the windows and doors to the classroom since the smell makes it difficult for the pupils to concentrate.
“The farming is an all year affair and hence the pollution is constant”, one of the teachers complained to rawgist.com and adds that “the air feels like pepper on the eyes and also irritates the skin”
Evelyn Hannah Oppong is one of the teachers at the school. She also suffers a respiratory condition which she believes is due to the excessive continued use of agro chemicals on the vegetable farms nearby. She however says the residents are helpless in the face of the situation