The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has assured residents of Accra of its commitment to addressing pressing sanitation challenges in the capital.
This follows an assessment visit by the Assembly to various Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP) sites, where officials evaluated waste management conditions. The AMA pledged to clear all accumulated waste at these sites within two days.
Speaking to Citi News, Victor Kotey, Deputy Environmental Health Officer at the AMA, acknowledged the growing public concern over waste management, not just in Accra but across multiple municipalities.
He noted that many SIP sites, managed under an arrangement with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, have been overwhelmed with waste due to lapses in service delivery.
“For the past few months, service delivery at these sites has been poor, leading to spillovers. In some areas, there are no waste containers at all. That is why we are assessing the situation today, as we plan urgent interventions to evacuate the accumulated waste.
“We will also ensure that Zoomlion lifts the containers regularly because clearing the waste without a sustainable collection plan would be ineffective,” Mr Kotey explained.
He highlighted that waste collection in high-density commercial areas, such as the Central Business District and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, is conducted daily, both during the day and at night, to minimize inconvenience to the public.
“He however revealed that due to equipment constraints, the AMA has been solely handling waste collection since December 31, using limited resources and machinery provided under the DRIP program.
“Although DRIP equipment is not designed for waste collection, we are using it as a stopgap measure. However, this increases operational costs and prolongs the waste collection process. Our goal is to deploy the appropriate equipment as soon as possible,” he stated.
Mr. Kotey also addressed the issue of improper waste disposal by traders in commercial areas, many of whom do not have storage containers. “Traders often leave waste on pavements and curbs. As an Assembly, we are engaging them to adopt better waste management practices. We plan to supply them with trash bags to help minimize littering.”
He assured residents that immediate efforts were being made to clear the waste, with equipment mobilized from various sources to facilitate evacuation. “By tomorrow morning, we expect to have cleared more than 50% of the affected sites. However, due to the number of sites and the distance to our disposal facilities, full clearance may take some additional time,” he noted.
Mr. Kotey emphasised that waste management is a shared responsibility and urged residents to cooperate with formal waste collection services. “Many people prefer to dispose of waste carelessly to avoid paying for services, but this violates AMA bylaws and makes collection expensive. We urge residents and traders to package their waste properly, as Assembly funds should be used for social services, not avoidable cleanups,” he indicated.