Ghana’s waste management system could collapse without urgent government action – Ama Antwi

Ama Ofori Antwi, Executive Secretary of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), has cautioned that Ghana’s waste management system is on the brink of collapse if government fails to intervene immediately.

“If immediate government attention and intervention are not provided, these compounded challenges could cripple Ghana’s waste management system in a few days’ time, reversing years of progress made in keeping our cities clean and protecting public health and the environment,” she stated.

She explained that “service providers who have borrowed from banks, creditors, suppliers, and other partners to sustain operations now find themselves in positions where such support has ceased, and in most cases, they are being threatened with court action.”

Ama Ofori Antwi further highlighted the sector’s long-standing financial challenges, noting, “There has been an absence of a dedicated budgetary allocation for waste management over the years.”

According to her, “the sector’s financial sustainability, therefore, remains at risk, with the possibility of service disruptions if urgent attention is not given.”

She emphasised the need for immediate policy and financial support from government, insisting that “a fair and realistic adjustment is essential to ensure business viability and the continued provision of effective sanitation services across the country.”