News:
March 20, 2025
General Manager for Private Sector Business (PSB) of Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), Lola Asise Ashitey has appealed to the government for increased and timely financial support to expand the company’s liquid waste treatment plants across all 16 regions of Ghana.
This appeal was made during a media briefing as part of a five-facility tour of Zoomlion Ghana’s liquid waste treatment plants on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
According to Ashitey, SSGL currently operates six liquid waste treatment plants in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi. She emphasized the impact these facilities have had on public health, particularly in reducing the incidence of cholera in the Greater Accra Region.
“Since we started operations in 2017, we don’t have cholera in Greater Accra like we used to. The records are there. This must be replicated in all other regions to make sure that our people are healthy and can contribute to the nation’s development,” she stated.
Challenges with Improper Waste Disposal
Lola Ashitey mentioned a significant challenge faced by SSGL — the improper disposal of solid waste into liquid waste systems.
She described how people often dump diapers, sanitary pads, and even human remains into public toilets and streams, which disrupts the treatment process and clogs their pumps.
“Ghana is our country. If we do it right, we do it right for ourselves. But when people dump solid waste in public toilets and streams, it comes back to us. It makes it difficult for us to treat the waste properly. Maybe without these challenges, we could be having 10 treatment plants by now instead of six,” she noted.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
She urged Ghanaians to adopt responsible waste disposal practices, stressing that the fight against cholera and other sanitation-related diseases requires a collective effort.
“We don’t want what is happening in other regions with cholera outbreaks to happen to our people. We cannot do it alone. We all need to put our hands on deck to make sure we’re doing things right,” she appealed.
Future Plans and the Need for Support
SSGL aims to expand its operations to all 16 regions, ensuring better sanitation and healthier communities.
Ashitey expressed hope that with increased government support and prompt payments, this vision can become a reality.
She said, “Our key is for the government to support us more. We are already getting some support, but we would love to be paid regularly so we can replicate these plants across the country,” she added.
The expansion of liquid waste treatment facilities could significantly reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, improve public health, and create a cleaner environment across Ghana.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com