Accra: The government has initiated plans for the extensive evacuation of accumulated waste from Jamestown in Accra, aiming to transfer it to the Adipa Waste Management Centre, a sophisticated landfill facility located in Nsawam in the Eastern Region. This decision follows a recent announcement by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, who visited the facility to evaluate its readiness to handle the waste influx.
According to Ghana Web, the visit was part of a broader inspection of key waste management facilities in the Greater Accra Region, including the Jamestown and Achimota Waste Transfer Stations, the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), and the Kpone landfill site. These inspections were conducted to assess the country's waste management infrastructure and devise immediate strategies to tackle the increasing sanitation challenges in the capital.
Minister Ayariga highlighted that discussions have been held with the Ministers for Roads and Highways, Finance, and Defence to formulate an emergency evacuation plan. He revealed that the government had engaged Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, who confirmed the availability of the Adipa landfill, operated by a subsidiary of the Group, to receive the waste.
The government plans to conduct a technical assessment to establish the waste volume at Jamestown, the distance to the Adipa landfill, and the number of trucks required for the operation. The Director of Highways and his technical team will be involved in this assessment to determine logistical needs such as the number of trips and fuel requirements.
Support for the evacuation exercise will come from the Roads and Highways Ministry, alongside major construction companies in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, who have volunteered their resources. Ayariga emphasized the importance of engaging contractors who have already expressed their willingness to assist in the effort.
Further, the government intends to deploy the military to secure the cleared areas at Jamestown post-evacuation, preventing any resurgence of dumping or squatter encroachment. This measure aims to protect the cleared land and ensure that it does not revert to its former state.
To facilitate the evacuation, temporary road closures are being considered to prevent traffic congestion and expedite the movement of waste trucks. The operation may take place over selected weekends, with specific routes closed to regular vehicular traffic, allowing waste trucks to operate under police protection for swift completion.
The Adipa landfill, equipped to handle over 3,000 tonnes of waste daily and operating 24/7, is prepared to receive the waste from Jamestown. Richard Omane Mensah, Operations Manager of the Waste Landfill Company Ltd, confirmed the facility's capacity and readiness, noting the landfill's ongoing development in cells to accommodate increasing demand. However, he pointed out potential challenges with access road conditions that may affect the speed of the waste evacuation process.
The government is set to finalize the evacuation plan following the technical assessment, determining factors such as waste volume, truck requirements, routes, fuel needs, and the exercise's duration.