Asutifi North DCE raises alarm over plastic pollution in Kenyasi
The District Chief Executive for Asutifi North, Hafiz Dauda, has issued a strong warning about worsening sanitation and plastic pollution in Kenyasi and its environs after an inspection revealed mounting waste and poor refuse management. The DCE described the state of refuse dumps and unchecked plastic litter as a serious threat to public health and the environment.
During the inspection tour in early 2025, Mr. Dauda said he was shocked by the condition of dumping sites across the district. He noted that many refuse sites lacked proper waste containers and added that the district lacked vehicles to transport and dispose of garbage responsibly on schedule.
The sanitation crisis, the DCE warned, increases the risk of disease outbreaks in communities near dumping sites. He framed the issue as urgent, calling for timely interventions to protect residents — particularly children, market traders, and individuals living close to unregulated dump sites.
In response, Mr. Dauda pledged that the district assembly would mobilize resources to improve waste collection. He said the authority would seek to procure refuse containers, schedule regular waste-collection services, and strengthen the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative, which so far, he admitted, has not produced the intended sanitation standards in Kenyasi.
Community and environmental stakeholders welcomed the move but urged more comprehensive action. They argue that long-term solutions must include public sensitization on proper waste disposal, enforcement of sanitation laws, and collaboration with civil society and private-sector actors. Many called on the Asutifi North Assembly to implement recycling programmes and provide alternative waste-management solutions rather than merely rely on periodic clean ups.
Recent studies highlight why such calls are important. According to an environmental and advocacy group in Ghana, only about 9 percent of plastic waste generated nationally is recycled, while nearly half remains uncollected, leading to significant pollution of land, waterways and public spaces.
As 2025 draws to a close, Kenyasi residents and local authorities stand at a critical crossroads. The decisions taken now, whether to invest in waste-management infrastructure, enforce sanitation regulations, or support community-led cleanup drives, could determine whether this part of Ahafo Region becomes a model for environmental recovery or continues to suffer from the long-term effects of plastic pollution and poor waste disposal.
For many, there is hope that with renewed political will, community support, and strategic planning, Kenyasi can overcome this sanitation crisis and reclaim clean, healthy living conditions for its residents.
