Ghana News
Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga has declared the Agbogbloshie waste heap a national emergency and vowed to lead a major operation to remove it completely.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Mahama Ayariga has vowed to lead a major operation to completely evacuate the massive waste heap at Agbogbloshie in Accra.
Mr Ayariga described the decades-old accumulation as a national emergency and said its removal has become one of his major priorities since taking office. He disclosed that he visited the site three times during his first week as sector minister.
During his latest visit, the Minister climbed to the top of the waste heap and said its scale was striking, estimating that it had reached a height comparable to a 10-storey building.
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministries of Local Government, Finance, Roads and Highways, and Defence to work together on a comprehensive plan to evacuate the entire heap. The government is also mobilising resources involving the Ghana Armed Forces, Jospong Group and private contractors.
Technical teams are expected to use drones and artificial intelligence to map the site and determine the volume of waste. The assessment will help establish the number of trucks, heavy-duty equipment and personnel required for the operation.
The Minister said about 200 dump trucks are available across the country and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been directed to make available trucks, drivers and operators where possible.
The waste is expected to be transported to an engineered landfill site off the Nsawam Road for controlled disposal. Authorities are also considering a 24-hour operation to speed up the evacuation, subject to final arrangements and presidential approval.
Mr Ayariga acknowledged that moving hundreds of trucks from Accra to the disposal site could cause temporary traffic disruptions, particularly along the Accra-Nsawam route. He appealed to residents and motorists to accept the inconvenience as part of efforts to address the sanitation problem.
He also called on churches and other faith-based organisations to support public education on sanitation, environmental protection and responsible waste disposal.
The Minister stressed that the operation should not only remove the existing waste heap but also introduce measures to prevent the problem from recurring through improved waste management and greater public responsibility.
Your conversation is visible only to you and the admin team.
Comments
No comments yet.