By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana is losing more than GH¢6.2 billion annually through flood-related destruction, healthcare costs and environmental degradation caused by poor waste management, prompting renewed calls for sustainable financing to address the growing sanitation challenge in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).
The concern was raised during a high-level stakeholder dialogue on landfill and waste management held in Accra under the theme, “Alleviating Waste Disposal Crisis in Greater Accra.” The meeting brought together government officials, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), sanitation experts and private sector operators to discuss practical solutions to the region’s mounting waste disposal challenges.
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, said Ghana currently generates approximately 4,400 tonnes of solid waste every day, translating into about 1.6 million tonnes annually. Although the country maintains an average waste collection rate of 80 percent, he warned that rapid urbanisation and population growth will significantly increase waste generation over the next decade.
According to the Minister, the projected rise in waste volumes makes investment in modern waste treatment infrastructure an urgent national priority.
He identified sustainable financing as the biggest challenge confronting the sanitation sector, stressing that waste management cannot be left entirely to market forces. Drawing comparisons with countries such as South Korea, he noted that public investment remains critical to maintaining efficient waste management systems.
Ahmed Ibrahim disclosed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance to secure dedicated funding to settle outstanding debts owed to private waste management companies. He warned that delays in payments could disrupt sanitation services and create serious environmental and public health risks.
The Minister further challenged MMDCEs to take greater responsibility for sanitation outcomes within their jurisdictions, emphasizing that even the most sophisticated waste treatment facilities require consistent operational funding to function effectively.
The President of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, argued that Ghana must move away from its long-standing dependence on landfills, describing the approach as outdated and unsustainable.
He revealed that all 17 landfills constructed across the country with support from international partners reached full capacity within ten years, highlighting the limitations of landfill-centred waste disposal systems.
Dr. Agyepong advocated for a modern waste management model that prioritises waste collection, transfer stations, recycling and composting, with landfills serving only as a last option.
He also raised concerns about weak revenue mobilisation and inadequate tariff structures within the sector. According to him, while international benchmarks recommend household waste collection fees of between US$15 and US$20 in lower-middle-income countries, sanitation operators in Ghana continue to struggle with low recovery rates.
Despite the challenges, stakeholders pointed to Ghana’s growing leadership in environmental sanitation technology on the African continent. The country currently operates more than 50 waste treatment and composting facilities and has begun exporting sanitation expertise to countries including Kenya and Ethiopia.
Dr. Agyepong attributed this progress to sustained investments in local capacity development, revealing that sanitation service providers have supported the training of hundreds of highly qualified professionals.
The Vice Dean of the MMDCEs, Dr. Michael Mensah, assured participants that local authorities remain committed to improving sanitation standards and supporting efforts to strengthen waste management systems nationwide.
Participants at the dialogue concluded with a renewed commitment to deepen collaboration between government, local authorities and private sector service providers, stressing that policy discussions must be translated into sustainable financing mechanisms capable of ensuring cleaner communities and protecting public health across Accra and the wider GAMA area.
