By Edward Dankwah
Accra, June 9, GNA – Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), has called for urgent investment in waste management infrastructure to address the growing volume of solid waste generated within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).
He said sustainable waste management extended beyond sanitation and had direct implications for public health, environmental protection, climate resilience, urban development and economic growth.
The Minister was speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue in Accra, on final disposal site operations and sustainable solid waste management in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).
Mr. Ibrahim said the quality of waste management infrastructure in any city reflected the strength of its governance, planning and investment systems.
He disclosed that the 25 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies within GAMA currently generated about 4,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, equivalent to approximately 1.6 million tonnes annually, with an average collection rate of 80 per cent.
He noted that waste generation was projected to increase to about 5,186 tonnes per day by 2036, making it imperative for authorities to begin planning and investing in additional disposal and treatment facilities.
The Minister observed that although significant progress had been made in waste collection, recycling initiatives and sanitation infrastructure, final waste disposal remained one of the weakest links in the waste management value chain.
Mr. Ibrahim said effective waste collection could only be sustained when reliable and environmentally sound disposal facilities were available, adding that final disposal sites form the foundation of any successful waste management system.
“Government’s immediate priority is to improve operations at existing disposal facilities through better site management, improved access roads, adequate equipment and enhanced operational financing,” he added.
The Minister called for increased investment in transfer stations, recycling and composting plants, engineered landfills and waste-to-resource technologies to support sustainable waste management across the capital.
He also emphasized the need for innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships and blended financing models, to strengthen the sector and ensure long-term sustainability.
Mr. Ibrahim urged stronger collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, private waste operators, development partners and communities, noting that coordinated action was essential to tackling the growing waste challenge.
“With sustained investment, innovation and stakeholder cooperation, Greater Accra can become a model for integrated and sustainable waste management on the African continent,” he said.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, President, Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), noted that while landfill sites remained an important component of the waste management chain, they should not be the primary focus of the country’s waste strategy.
Instead, he said greater attention should be directed towards waste collection, transfer, treatment, composting and recycling.
Dr. Agyepong, who doubles as the Executive Director for Jospong Group of Companies, highlighted the importance of modern waste management practices based on the principles of refuse, reduce, repair, rethink, recover and recycle, describing them as more sustainable approaches to managing growing waste volumes.
“Data from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research indicates that Ghana loses more than GH¢6.2 billion annually through flooding, disease outbreaks and healthcare costs linked to poor waste management practices” he added.
The ESPA President said landfill sites constructed with support from development partners often reached capacity within a decade, reinforcing the need to prioritize treatment and resource recovery solutions.
He noted that organic waste constituted about 62 per cent of waste generated in Africa, making composting a viable option for Ghana, particularly at a time when the country continued to import large quantities of fertilizer.
Dr. Agyepong disclosed that Ghana currently has about 50 waste treatment plants, making it one of the leading countries on the continent in terms of waste treatment infrastructure and expertise.
He said waste management was a highly technical field requiring specialized skills and knowledge, adding that, “the global waste management industry is currently valued at about $1.6 trillion and is projected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2030.”
He called on the government to sustain the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, provide equipment financing support, and grant tax waivers to waste management companies to enable them to expand services and contribute more effectively to national development.
GNA
Kenneth Odemg Adade