Government is set to undertake a comprehensive review of Ghana’s waste management system following an assessment of major facilities in the Greater Accra Region by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga.
The inspection covered the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), Achimota and Jamestown Waste Transfer Stations, and the Kpone landfill, with a focus on identifying gaps across collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and final disposal.
Hon. Ayariga stressed that reforms must begin at the source, urging households to separate waste before collection. He proposed strategically located transfer stations and treatment facilities to improve efficiency and reduce transportation costs. A key component of the reforms, he noted, would be the adoption of the polluter‑pays principle, requiring households, businesses, and industries to contribute towards managing the waste they generate.
The Minister further called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen the collection of property rates, market rates, and other statutory revenues to finance sanitation services, while ensuring transparency and accountability. He cautioned against excessive reliance on the Common Fund, insisting that locally generated revenue should play a greater role in sustaining sanitation services.
The tour also provided an opportunity to explore investment opportunities in Ghana’s waste management infrastructure. Dr. Fatima Elsheikh, Vice President for Operations and Secretary General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), joined the exercise and expressed the Bank’s willingness to support Ghana’s efforts to strengthen the sector.
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