News:
September 1, 2026
In a decisive move to address the mounting waste management challenges in the capital, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, today embarked on a comprehensive tour of waste management sites across the Greater Accra Region.
Accompanied by technical teams from the Ministry, prospective international partners, and the media, the Minister conducted an on-the-ground assessment of collection points, transfer stations, and treatment facilities. The tour, which began in the early hours, served as a critical fact-finding mission to diagnose the inefficiencies plaguing the city’s sanitation infrastructure.
“A Microcosm of a National Challenge”
Addressing the media at the end of the tour, Minister Ayariga painted a stark picture of the current state of affairs, emphasizing that the issues observed in Accra are reflective of a broader national crisis.
“There are clearly a lot of gaps in terms of the systems we have for collecting and managing waste,” Hon. Ayariga stated. “From the homes where the waste is generated, we do not separate it. We must put in place a system for separating it right from the source. We need receptacles and bins at the household level so that conveyance is easier.”
The Minister outlined a three-pronged strategy to modernize the sector:
- Overhauling Collection: Streamlining the transportation of waste from homes to transfer stations.
- Decentralizing Infrastructure: Bringing transfer stations, treatment centers, and composting facilities closer to communities to reduce logistical costs.
- Investing in Technology: Leveraging available technology to ensure efficient processing.
“The Polluter Must Pay”
In a firm declaration of policy direction, Minister Ayariga introduced the “Polluter Pays” principle as a cornerstone of the new waste management regime. He stressed that the burden of sanitation cannot fall solely on the government.
“You cannot ask government to come and pay for that waste,” he asserted. “The people who have constructed the buildings and those who occupy them are responsible for incurring the cost. We are going to take the commitment of citizens and households to pay their fair share.”
The Minister urged residents to fulfill their civic obligations, including paying property rates and sewerage levies. “We cannot live in cities and want to behave differently from all other successful cities. It is not rocket science. We are going to replicate what works elsewhere,” he added.
Accountability and Cost Reduction
Acknowledging the financial strain on households, Hon. Ayariga promised that the restructuring of the system would ultimately lower costs for residents. He noted that the current high cost of services, such as refuse collection, is a result of logistical inefficiencies, including long travel distances for trucks and high-interest financing for waste collectors.
“If we organize it well, we could reduce the cost per household of waste management by even 50%,” the Minister projected. “We promise to be accountable. We promise to be efficient. We promise to be transparent so that you see exactly how your resources are being used.”
Mobilizing International Investment
The Minister revealed that the tour also served as a platform for engaging international partners. He noted that he was joined by the Vice President of Vadir, Dr. Fatima Al-Shake, whose technical team is currently exploring financing opportunities to mobilize resources for the “entire value chain.”
A Call to Action
Concluding his remarks, Hon. Ayariga called for a collective national effort, appealing to all residents to support the government’s initiatives.
“We need your support and your cooperation. We are putting those systems in place, and we are looking for financing. When we raise the money, it has to be paid by you, but we promise to be transparent,” he said.
The Minister is expected to convene a meeting with his counterparts from all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the coming days to discuss the rollout of these new measures.
Ghanamps.com