The ongoing decongestion exercise by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has led to a 14.4-tonne reduction in the volume of waste collected from the Central Business District (CBD).
According to the Head of Waste Management, Engineer Solomon Noi, AMA previously deployed four tipper trucks, making a minimum of six trips daily to evacuate waste from the CBD. However, since the exercise began, the Assembly now records an average of four trips per day.
Speaking on Monday during the continuation of the First Ordinary Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Assembly of AMA, Mr. Noi stated:
“After the exercise, we are recording an average of four trips a day. This represents a reduction of two loads of tipper trucks, which is estimated at 14.4 tonnes of waste.”
He noted that the improvement in cleanliness and traffic flow had also contributed to better air quality within the CBD, adding that sustaining the operation was key to maintaining a clean city environment.
In his address, Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey reiterated his commitment to the decongestion efforts, emphasizing that sanitation standards would remain a key performance indicator for his administration.
“As I am speaking with you, I have my reflector with me, heading to the market to engage with the women and assure them of plans to boost the local economy,” the Mayor said.
He explained that President John Mahama had set clear standards to assess the performance of his appointees based on the level of sanitation in their jurisdictions.
“You can ask Mr. Noi, Head of Waste Management; I called him to meet me at Circle on Sunday after church service. I am not getting tired of this work,” he added.
The Mayor further indicated that the exercise was not causing any financial strain to the Assembly. He noted that AMA was working closely with the police to enforce the law and sustain the operation.
“Honourable, please, I don’t think we are causing financial distress to AMA. Although we have changed the face of the work, we are not going to quit this job today or tomorrow,” he declared.
He stressed the importance of continued stakeholder engagement to secure public cooperation.
“Our information vans are still announcing the redline policy and decongestion exercise. You are dealing with people—you have to get them involved for better cooperation.”
Mayor Allotey concluded with a call to action: “If we can’t fix Accra today, then there is no tomorrow.”
The decongestion exercise is part of the Assembly’s broader “Reset Agenda” aimed at improving sanitation, restoring order, and enhancing the quality of life in Ghana’s capital.
Source: AMA
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