Africa must urgently shift from rhetoric to action in dealing with its mounting waste problem, according to Minister of State for Special Initiatives, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum.
Speaking at the inaugural International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) Africa Chapter Conference in Accra, the Minister delivered a frank address that challenged policymakers, academia, and industry leaders to embrace practical, homegrown solutions.
The Minister outlined Africa’s key challenges: waste is not segregated at source, transfer stations are inadequate, technology to process waste is lacking, and financing remains weak. This, he noted, is happening despite the fact that the global circular economy is valued at US$1.2 trillion (UNEP Finance Initiative, 2020), with enormous potential for Africa.
“What is the solution? Is it segregation? Is it waste-to-energy? Is it catching them young? Is it innovation from academia? We cannot continue with business as usual, there has to be a solution,” Mr Agyekum stressed.
He proposed that African countries begin with small-scale community pilot projects that can later be replicated nationally and regionally. Referring to Ghana’s National Sanitation Day initiative, he admitted that despite years of effort, cities remain overwhelmed by waste, proof that a new approach is needed.
The Minister also called for greater collaboration between policymakers and universities to ensure that research leads to concrete solutions. He lamented that while waste-to-energy facilities exist in Europe, Africa has been discussing the idea for more than 16 years without significant progress.
“I have seen waste-to-energy facilities in Croatia, Germany, and Holland. Why can’t we build one in Africa? Let us stop long speeches and commit to solutions—financing, technology, and innovation must come together for Africa to rise,” he told the gathering.
According to the World Bank (2020), Accra alone produces about 3,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with only 70 percent collected, while Africa as a whole generates an estimated 244 million tonnes annually according to the Sustainability Journal, 2024. Of this, just 55 percent is collected and only 4 percent recycled.
He called for action, urging Africa to “champion local solutions that can turn waste into jobs, energy, and economic resilience, instead of a public health burden.”
