Mahama orders 90-day cleanup of Agbogbloshie waste

President John Dramani Mahama has directed a 90-day operation to clear the massive accumulation of waste at Agbogbloshie, describing the exercise as a major step towards restoring sanitation, protecting public health and reclaiming the area for productive use.

The cleanup operation will deploy equipment under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), including tipper trucks, excavators, bulldozers and wheel loaders. The exercise will also receive support from the Ghana Armed Forces, private road contractors, metropolitan and municipal assemblies, as well as other state institutions.

President Mahama said the waste at the site is estimated at about one million tonnes and will be evacuated to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site.

According to the President, the cleanup is expected to take approximately 90 days, after which the reclaimed land will be prepared for the proposed Agbogloshie Urban Land Renewal Project.

The project is expected to include an Industrial Park and a major textile factory, with the aim of creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

President Mahama also stressed that the cleanup must be accompanied by measures to prevent the area from becoming a dumping ground again.

He directed relevant authorities to strengthen enforcement, ensure reliable waste collection and promote responsible waste disposal to sustain the gains made after the exercise.

The Agbogloshie operation forms part of a broader government programme to improve waste management nationwide. The programme includes the distribution of household waste bins, construction of additional waste transfer stations and engineered landfill facilities, as well as efforts to increase the country's recycling capacity.

The President called on residents, traders, motorists, businesses and other stakeholders to cooperate with the teams carrying out the exercise.

He said the collective effort would be essential to restoring sanitation, dignity and environmental safety to Agbogloshie while creating the conditions for the area's redevelopment.