Waste management is a pressing issue in Ghana, particularly in urban areas. The country faces challenges in dealing with various types of waste, including domestic solid waste, industrial waste, and construction waste.
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Unfortunately, the current state of waste management in Ghana leaves much to be desired, with less than 40% of urban residents having access to solid waste collection services and less than 30% having access to acceptable household toilet facilities.
This article delves into the background of waste management in Ghana, the government’s responses and interventions, lessons learned, recent trends and emerging issues, major constraints and challenges, and means of implementation. Most of the concern for waste management in Ghana is focused on urban areas. The predominant types of waste generated in these areas are domestic solid waste, industrial waste, and construction waste.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of this waste ends up in drains, streams, and open spaces rather than being properly disposed of at designated dumpsites. Open dumping, open burning, controlled burning, and tipping at dumpsites are the common methods of waste disposal in Ghana.
This has led to a pressing sanitation problem, as many towns and cities are overwhelmed with the management of municipal solid and liquid wastes. The contamination of water and land has raised concerns about the country’s lack of an integrated approach to waste management.
Government Response and Interventions
The government of Ghana has taken various measures to address the waste management problems in the country. These measures include the 1999 formulation of an Environmental Sanitation Policy, which has been amended and supported by strategic action plans for implementation. Additionally, relevant legislation has been enacted to control waste, such as the Local Government Act, Environmental Assessment Regulations, Criminal Code, Water Resources Commission Act, Pesticides Control and Management Act, and National Building Regulations.
To further support waste management, several guidelines and standards have been developed by the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Health. These guidelines cover national environmental quality, landfill management, healthcare and veterinary waste management, and district-level environmental sanitation strategies and action plans.
The district assemblies play a crucial role in waste management at the local and community levels. They are supported by institutions like the EPA, which sets environmental standards and guidelines, administers environmental assessment regulations, conducts education and awareness programmes, and monitors environmental quality. The establishment of the National Environmental Sanitation Policy Coordination Council within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development further ensures the implementation of policy objectives.
Environmental education and awareness creation
Efforts have been made to enhance environmental education and awareness of waste management. Capacity-building programmes, seminars, and workshops have been organised to address the challenges faced by Ghana.
For example, the Ghana Institute of Engineers organised lectures on “Sanitation and Waste Management in Ghana: Way Forward,” and the Inter-Faith Waste Management Initiative aimed to find practical solutions to waste management issues.
However, despite these initiatives, there is still a need for more comprehensive education and awareness programmes to effectively tackle the waste management menace. To promote environmental sanitation, Ghana has established an annual National Environmental Sanitation Day. This day is dedicated to sensitising the general public about the importance of keeping the environment clean and sound.
Waste Recovery, Recycling, and Reuse
Waste recycling has become an economically viable option in Ghana, despite the challenges associated with waste collection. Some industries use waste recycling technologies to reduce the demand for raw materials, energy, and water. For example, Guinness (Ghana) Limited derives a portion of its revenue from the sale of yeast and spent grain used as animal feed. However, it is important to note that many major industrial establishments still practice limited recycling.
Scavengers, often considered a hindrance to waste disposal operations, play a vital role in the waste recycling process. Incorporating scavengers into municipal waste operations, such as designating them as official used-materials merchants and providing them with training and status upgrading, can contribute to more efficient waste management.
Financing waste management
One of the major constraints to developing appropriate waste management systems in Ghana is the poor national economic policies and poverty of rural communities. As urban areas grow, they exhaust the capacity of existing disposal sites, requiring waste to be transported greater distances. Householders often resist paying waste management fees, leading to insufficient funding for collection agencies. Therefore, there is a need for more appropriate financing mechanisms for waste management in Ghana.
Currently, it costs about six Ghana cedis (¢6.00) to collect one tonne of waste in Accra. Private contractors deliver containers and clear waste from various collection points. However, irregular payments from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have resulted in broken-down trucks and uncollected waste within the city. The AMA spends approximately $250,000 per month on solid waste management alone.
Waste Management Projects and Programmes
Several waste management projects and programmes have been implemented in Ghana with the support of the government and international organisations. For example, the Urban Development Projects (Urban I, II, and III) and the Urban Environmental Sanitation Project (UESP) aimed to address sanitation and waste management issues in cities like Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, and Tema. These projects involved the construction of sanitary infrastructure, nighttime soil treatment plants, and private toilets. The collaboration between the government of Ghana and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment also aimed to improve the control of the transboundary movement of solid waste between the two countries.
Lessons Learned So Far
The review of waste management policies, plans, and programmes in Ghana has revealed several lessons learned. First, there is a general reluctance by district assemblies and the private sector to invest directly in waste infrastructure due to uncertainties in the planning process and the lack of enforcement of national policies and district by-laws.
Greater coordination is needed to implement waste management plans and programmes effectively. To prevent illegal waste disposal, the enforcement of existing waste legislation and by-laws must be improved.
Moreover, there is a need to encourage private investment in waste infrastructure through frameworks such as public-private partnerships (PPPs). The waste management sector should also be recognised and supported with sufficient human resources and training to ensure effective policy implementation.
Finally, citizens’ roles and responsibilities in waste management must be emphasised, as waste management is not solely the responsibility of government institutions and local authorities.
Waste Composting Technologies
Degradable organic materials account for a significant portion of Ghana’s municipal solid waste. Composting has been suggested as a suitable disposal technique for this organic waste. A study conducted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly found that approximately 65% of the waste stream consists of organics. Composting can be an appropriate and viable technique for managing organic waste in Ghana.
Landfills capture methane gas.
Methane capture from landfills has emerged as an economically viable option for energy production, particularly in light of global climate change challenges. Ghana has historically paid little attention to capturing gases from landfill sites.
However, there is an opportunity to design and construct landfills that maximise methane recovery in a sustainable and environmentally beneficial way. Several landfill CDM projects (Clean Development Mechanism) are being pursued, and additional support is required to secure methane recovery from landfills.
Electronic Waste
The trade-in of second-hand electronic equipment has become a significant environmental and health concern in Ghana. Obsolete computers, televisions, mobile phones, and other electronic devices are often dumped or burned, leading to environmental contamination.
Ghana is a signatory to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, and efforts are being made to improve the control of the transboundary movement of solid waste. The EPA has initiated an e-waste inventory, targeting manufacturers, consumers, service providers, repairers, traders, and associated groups.
Plastic Waste Management
In Ghana, plastic waste is a major problem, with plastic bottles, polythene bags, sachets, and wrappers being the most common post-consumer waste. Ghana’s over 40 plastic-producing industries, both domestic and imported, contribute to the plastic waste problem. With limited recycling facilities, the issue of plastic waste requires significant attention due to the limited recycling facilities.
Major Constraints and Challenges
The problem of waste management in Ghana is multifaceted, with several constraints and challenges. Poor planning, inadequate equipment and operational funds, insufficient waste management sites and facilities, a lack of skills and capacity among waste management staff, and negative attitudes of the general public towards the environment are some of the key challenges that need to be addressed.
The Means of Implementation
To achieve an integrated waste management system in Ghana, effective planning, evaluation, and physical handling of waste are essential. Waste characterization studies should be conducted to adapt systems to the types of waste generated.
Marketing recovered materials, establishing training programmes for waste management workers, carrying out public information and education programmes, and implementing financial mechanisms and cost-recovery systems are also crucial. Private sector involvement, such as through public-private partnerships, should be encouraged.
Additionally, the mobilisation of financial resources, technological development and transfer, the application of research and indigenous knowledge, and the promotion of affordable and pragmatic waste management methodologies are necessary for successful waste management in Ghana.
Conclusion
Addressing the waste management challenges in Ghana requires a comprehensive and integrated approach involving all stakeholders. The government’s response and interventions, along with lessons learned from past projects and programmes, provide a foundation for future improvements.
By implementing effective waste management strategies, Ghana can overcome the constraints and challenges it faces and move towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management system.
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Credit: UN Commission on Sustainable Development (National Report for Ghana)
