Accra: For years, Ghana has been celebrated as one of Africa's emerging leaders in waste management and environmental sanitation. Modern composting plants, waste treatment facilities, and innovative recycling initiatives have transformed the country's sanitation landscape, earning recognition across the continent.
According to Ghana Web, behind these successes lies a growing concern: how to sustainably finance the collection, treatment, and disposal of the ever-increasing volumes of waste generated daily. This issue took center stage at a high-level stakeholder dialogue on landfill and waste management held in Accra, where government officials, local authorities, sanitation experts, and private sector operators warned that Ghana risks reversing decades of progress unless a reliable funding model is urgently established.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs under the theme, "Alleviating Waste Disposal Crisis in Greater Accra," and brought together key actors in the sanitation sector at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City. Participants emphasized that waste management is a public good that cannot be financed solely by individual households and businesses. They expressed concern that the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, introduced to provide financial support for sanitation services through fuel purchases, is failing to fulfill its intended role.
Without adequate financing, they warned, the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) could lose many of the gains achieved over the last two decades in environmental cleanliness, waste collection, and public health.
Ghana's urban population continues to expand rapidly, creating enormous pressure on existing waste management infrastructure. Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, noted that Ghana currently generates approximately 4,400 tonnes of solid waste every day, amounting to nearly 1.6 million tonnes annually. While the country has achieved an average collection rate of about 80 percent, the remaining uncollected waste continues to pose significant risks.
Furthermore, projections suggest waste generation will increase substantially over the coming decade as urbanization accelerates and populations grow. The Minister stressed the need for investment in modern waste treatment facilities and efficient collection systems but identified financing as the sector's biggest obstacle.
The landfill debate remains a critical issue. Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, President of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, challenged the reliance on landfills, describing them as outdated and insufficient for modern demands. He advocated for a more integrated approach prioritizing waste collection, recycling, composting, and resource recovery before resorting to landfill disposal.
Funding emerged as the central challenge for the sanitation sector. Industry operators highlighted difficulties in revenue mobilization and cost recovery, noting that current tariff structures are inadequate. Dr. Agyepong pointed out that households in lower-middle-income countries typically pay between US$15 and US$20 per month for waste collection services, yet in Ghana, service providers struggle with low collection rates and inadequate revenue streams.
Despite these challenges, Ghana's achievements in sanitation innovation over the past two decades remain significant, with more than 50 waste treatment and composting facilities built, positioning the country as a leader in environmental sanitation technology. Ghanaian firms are now exporting their expertise to other African nations, driven by long-term investments in local capacity development and human resource training.
Research findings presented during the dialogue highlighted the economic implications of poor waste management, estimating annual costs to Ghana of more than GHS6.2 billion due to flood-related destruction, healthcare expenditure, and environmental degradation. Experts argued that investing in effective waste management today is significantly cheaper than addressing future environmental neglect.
In conclusion, stakeholders agreed that addressing Greater Accra's waste disposal crisis requires stronger collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, private service providers, and citizens. They stressed the need for practical and sustainable financing mechanisms to support long-term sanitation improvements, recognizing waste management as a critical investment in public health, environmental sustainability, and national development. The challenge now is whether Ghana can secure the resources needed to protect the progress it has achieved.