By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA – Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the 2027 Budget will make provision for the construction of landfill sites across major cities in the country to address the persistent challenge of waste management.
He said the initiative formed part of government’s broader efforts to provide sustainable solutions to the country’s sanitation challenges and prevent the recurrence of huge waste heaps in urban centres.
Dr Ato Forson made the announcement when he joined President John Dramani Mahama and other ministers for the National Emergency Waste Evacuation Exercise in Accra.
He said Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, had approached the Ministry of Finance with a cost-effective plan to evacuate the huge waste mountain in the heart of Accra using government-owned equipment.
“He informed me that we can clear this with our own DRIP machines that we have paid for. All he needs is fuel, per diem and maintenance of the DRIP machines,” he said.
Dr Ato Forson said he readily supported the proposal because it represented value for money and reflected the government’s commitment to the “Reset Agenda.”
He said the Ministry of Finance subsequently agreed to use a portion of the District Assemblies Common Fund to provide the necessary resources, including fuel and allowances, to support the exercise.
The Minister said the proposal was later presented to President Mahama, who gave his approval for the exercise to proceed.
“The Minister of Roads and Highways has also reached an agreement with road contractors to support the exercise with more than 200 trucks,” he added.
Dr Ato Forson said, given the potential disruption to vehicular movement during the exercise, discussions with the Local Government Ministry had resulted in a decision to conduct most of the evacuation operations at night.
He said a limited amount of waste would be transported to the designated dumping site during the day to minimise inconvenience to motorists and other road users.
The Minister of Finance assured Mr Ayariga that the Finance Ministry would continue to support similar initiatives aimed at addressing sanitation challenges across the country.
The National Emergency Waste Evacuation Exercise is aimed at removing accumulated waste from major hotspots, including the large waste heap at Agbogbloshie, and restoring cleaner and safer urban environments.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah