Newly appointed Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s waste management system to improve the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.
Mr Ayariga made the call on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, after touring several waste management facilities in the Greater Accra Region.
His tour included the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, the James Town Waste Transfer Station and the Kpone Landfill site.
The visit formed part of his initial engagements with key facilities within the local government sector to assess the state of environmental sanitation in Accra and identify areas requiring investment and reform.
He was accompanied by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Allotey, officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, representatives of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and other dignitaries.
Mr Ayariga said the conditions observed during the tour demonstrated the need to review Ghana’s entire waste management chain.
He noted that significant gaps exist in the current system, beginning with how waste is handled at the household level.
According to him, most households do not separate waste at the point of generation, making subsequent collection, transportation and treatment more difficult.
He therefore called for the introduction of a system that would encourage households to separate waste and provide appropriate bins and receptacles for different types of waste.
The minister also advocated for improvements in waste transportation, including the establishment of transfer stations closer to communities to reduce the distance waste trucks travel.
He further proposed bringing treatment and composting facilities closer to major urban centres to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Mr Ayariga said Ghana already possesses much of the technology and infrastructure required to improve environmental sanitation, but stressed that better organisation remains a major challenge.
Government seeks investment in waste management
Mr Ayariga said the tour would provide valuable information to guide the government’s efforts to mobilise investment for the waste management sector.
He toured the facilities alongside Dr Fatima Elsheikh, Vice President for Operations and Secretary General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), as part of discussions on potential financing for refuse management infrastructure.
He said the government was seeking resources to invest across the entire waste management chain, including collection, transportation, treatment and recycling.
Mr Ayariga noted that the challenges identified in Accra were likely to exist in other major cities across Ghana, including Kumasi and Takoradi.
He also reaffirmed the government’s intention to apply the ” polluter-pays principle”, under which individuals and property owners who generate residue would contribute towards the cost of managing it.
He assured residents that the government would work to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of trash collection for households.
According to him, inefficiencies in the existing system, including long transportation distances and high operating costs for private refuse companies, contribute significantly to the fees paid by households.
He believes better organisation could potentially reduce household refuse management costs by as much as 50 per cent.
The minister also pledged greater accountability and transparency in the management of funds allocated to the sector.
BADEA expresses interest in supporting Ghana
Dr Fatima Elsheikh said she was impressed by the government’s commitment to improving waste management in Ghana.
She stressed that waste management should not be viewed solely as an environmental concern but also as an opportunity to create jobs, improve livelihoods and stimulate economic development.
Dr Elsheikh also noted that a cleaner Accra would strengthen the city’s position as an important business and economic hub on the continent.
She expressed BADEA’s willingness to support Ghana’s efforts to develop a more sustainable and efficient waste management system.
Ayariga begins work after ministerial appointment
The tour comes shortly after Mr Ayariga assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent ministerial reshuffle.
President Mahama nominated Mr Ayariga on August 7 to replace Ahmed Ibrahim, who was reassigned to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
Parliament approved his nomination on August 27 following his vetting by the Appointments Committee.
He was subsequently sworn into office by President Mahama on August 29, 2026.
His early engagements are expected to focus on assessing challenges within the local government sector and implementing measures to improve service delivery, particularly in sanitation and waste management.
By:Rachael Djabakie