Greater Accra Waste Could Hit 5,100 Tonnes Daily by 2036
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that the Greater Accra Region generates about 4,400 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, with projections indicating a rise to more than 5,100 tonnes per day by 2036.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ dialogue in Accra, the Minister called for urgent investment in additional waste disposal and treatment facilities to address the growing sanitation challenge in the region.
He said the increasing waste levels require immediate and sustained expansion of modern waste management infrastructure to prevent a looming environmental crisis.
Mr. Ibrahim revealed that the 25 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Greater Accra currently generate about 4,400 tonnes of waste daily, equivalent to approximately 1.6 million tonnes annually.
He noted that the figure is expected to rise significantly due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, expanding economic activities, and changing consumption patterns.
The Minister explained that Greater Accra, as Ghana’s main economic hub, hosts millions of people engaged in daily commercial, industrial and social activities, all contributing to rising waste generation.
He identified final waste disposal as a major gap in the sanitation chain, stressing that while progress has been made in waste collection, recycling and environmental management, inadequate treatment and disposal infrastructure continues to undermine the system.
According to him, waste management cannot be considered effective if collected waste is not properly treated and safely disposed of at the final stage.
“A city cannot be considered truly clean if waste is successfully collected from homes, businesses, and markets but encounters challenges at the point of final disposal. In many respects, the final disposal site forms the foundation upon which the entire waste management system rests,” he stressed.
Mr. Ibrahim cautioned that the situation is likely to worsen unless deliberate steps are taken to expand waste treatment capacity to match growing demand.
He therefore called for comprehensive planning and sustained investment in modern sanitation infrastructure to ensure environmental sustainability and protect public health.
The Minister also urged metropolitan assemblies, private sector actors, and development partners to collaborate in bridging the infrastructure gap and strengthening the waste management value chain.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving sanitation in the region but warned that without expanded disposal and treatment facilities, existing systems risk being overwhelmed by the rising waste burden.
