President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate reopening of six waste transfer stations in Accra. These facilities had remained inactive for about nine years.
This directive forms part of significant measures to address the city’s worsening sanitation challenges. The reopening will create designated points for waste service providers to dispose of refuse, helping reduce pressure on existing disposal sites. It will also improve overall waste collection efficiency in the capital.
Accra has struggled with waste management for years, often resulting in overflowing refuse bins and environmental hazards. This move signals a renewed focus on urban sanitation, impacting residents and waste operators directly. The inability to properly dispose of waste has contributed to public health concerns and environmental degradation across the city.
President Mahama gave this directive during an inspection of the second day of the National Clean-up Exercise at Alajo. He explained that reopening these facilities would prevent waste operators from travelling long distances to the landfill site at Amasaman. He stated, “We’ve had six transfer stations that were built more than nine years ago. Unfortunately, they were not put into operation. So we’ve asked the contractor to open the transfer stations so that the waste operators can take the garbage there.”
The President noted that smaller waste trucks, including those operated by tricycle waste collectors, can now deposit refuse at the transfer stations. Larger trucks will then transport the waste from these stations to final disposal sites. This streamlined process aims to make waste collection more efficient and less costly for operators.
This arrangement will ease challenges that waste collectors have recently faced. They have complained about the lack of designated dumping sites, which has led to refuse accumulating in many parts of the capital. The President urged waste operators participating in the clean-up exercise to use the nearest transfer station instead of travelling all the way to Amasaman. This reduces fuel costs and operational time for waste service providers.
The government expects this action to significantly enhance Accra's urban cleanliness and public health outcomes. Improved waste management infrastructure can attract further investment in sanitation services. This may also lead to better environmental ratings for the city, potentially boosting tourism and economic activity. Future efforts will likely focus on sustaining the operation of these stations.