Mahama announces engineered landfill facilities for all 16 regional capitals

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish engineered landfill facilities in all 16 regional capitals as part of a broader strategy to address Ghana's growing waste management challenges.

The initiative, he said, is intended to create a coordinated waste management system covering the entire process, from the collection of waste at households to its final disposal.

President Mahama announced the plans at the launch of the National Emergency Waste Evacuation Exercise, where he outlined several measures the government intends to implement to improve sanitation and waste management.

Under the programme, households are expected to receive waste bins, while additional waste transfer and transit stations will be constructed to improve the collection and movement of refuse.

The government also plans to provide equipment to support waste collection and management activities across the country.

President Mahama said the number of recycling facilities would be increased to accommodate the rising volume of waste generated nationwide. He also announced plans to expand landfill capacity in the Greater Kumasi area.

“We’ll increase the number of recycling plants to handle the waste that is generated across the country. The plan also provides for the expansion of landfill capacity in the greater Kumasi area and the development of engineered landfill facilities in all 16 regional capitals,” he announced.

The President said the success of the programme would require the active participation of local assemblies, traditional authorities, private-sector operators and members of the public.

He also disclosed that the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, had committed financial support to the programme.

“The good news is that the Minister for Finance [Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson] has committed to supporting this programme, and I call on all our assemblies' traditional authorities, private operators and citizens to contribute to its success. As we implement it, we must also strengthen waste separation, recycling and material recovery to reduce the volume of waste requiring final disposal and create opportunities for enterprise and employment,” he said.