By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Aug. 4, GNA – Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, says the post-flood sanitation exercise has highlighted the urgent need for additional waste transfer stations across the country.
He said this would sustain efficient refuse collection and prevent future public health emergencies.
He stated that although significant progress had been made, following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to open all waste transfer stations in Accra for the free evacuation of refuse after the July 29 and 30 floods, the existing six facilities were insufficient to cope with the volume of waste being generated, particularly in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Ibrahim made the remarks during a working visit to the Accra Compost and Recycling Station at Korle Bu with officials of the Jospong Group of Companies, to assess the impact of measures introduced after the devastating floods.
Mr Ibrahim said the President’s directive, which suspended the weighing of refuse at transfer stations to allow for faster disposal, had significantly improved sanitation operations and accelerated the removal of waste from affected communities.
He explained that the visit formed part of preparations for separate briefings to the Council of State and President Mahama on the progress made after the national sanitation intervention and the effectiveness of measures introduced following the floods.
Mr Ibrahim said only five of the country’s six transfer stations were currently operational, with the Mallam Transfer Station remaining closed because of the lack of access road.
“Completing the access road to the Mallam facility, would ease pressure on the other transfer stations, particularly the Jamestown facility, which currently receives about 800 tricycles daily out of an estimated 4,000 operating across the Greater Accra Region,” he added.
The Minister noted that the long queues of tricycles around the Korle Bu facility posed traffic management challenges, especially given its proximity to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and underscored the need for additional transfer stations to improve operational efficiency.
Mr Ibrahim said the 24-hour sanitation model, supported by articulated trucks transporting waste overnight from transfer stations to engineered landfill sites in the Eastern Region, had played a vital role in preventing the accumulation of refuse after the floods.
He said the President’s decision to allow residents to dispose of waste free of charge had encouraged households to clear accumulated refuse from their homes, resulting in increased volumes of waste being transported to transfer stations.
The Minister stressed that sanitation management required strong public-private partnerships, noting that beyond establishing landfill sites, the government must continue investing in heavy equipment, logistics and operational support to ensure effective waste disposal.
He warned that while the sanitation situation had improved considerably, the government could not afford to relent, as prolonged accumulation of refuse could trigger outbreaks of communicable diseases.
He said the Minister for Finance had pledged to release funds for the development of an engineered landfill site, describing the project as critical to strengthening the country’s long-term waste management system.
The Minister expressed confidence that with sustained collaboration between government and the private sector, Ghana could build a more resilient sanitation system capable of responding effectively to future emergencies and safeguarding public health.
Mr John Bosco Avon, the President of the Borla Taxi and Tricycle Association (BTTA), said the President’s directive had been of help to the Association, because much fuel was consumed when waste was transported to farther distances.
He said currently, Accra did not have its own landfill site, and that the nearest engineered landfill was located at Awutu Senya in the Central Region, and it was not practical for tricycles to transport waste directly there.
Mr Avon said the Jamestown Transfer Station had therefore become an important facility because of its proximity, making waste disposal more efficient than transporting refuse over much longer distances.
“Our priority now is to speed up the waste evacuation process. Refuse continues to accumulate within communities, so tricycles need to offload quickly and return promptly to collect more waste.
When they are delayed, residents often have no option but to dispose of refuse indiscriminately, including drains and gutters,” he added.
The President of BTTA stressed that one of the major causes of the delays was the long queues at the existing transfer stations, hence establishing additional transfer stations would significantly improve turnaround times, enhance waste collection efficiency and help prevent indiscriminate dumping across the city.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo