As the Greater Accra Region faces a rapidly escalating waste management crisis, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Ahmed Ibrahim, has pledged to take swift action in collaboration with the President and key stakeholders to secure additional landfill sites and avert a potential disaster in the region.
Speaking after an official visit to the Kpone Landfill Site, the Minister warned that if immediate interventions are not made, the area — particularly the Tema Metropolitan Assembly — could face a severe sanitation crisis within just a month.
The Kpone site, which has long served as the primary disposal facility for the Tema enclave, is now under immense pressure, with several municipalities in the region relying on it to dispose of waste.
“The Kpone Landfill has essentially become the lifeline for waste management in Tema and surrounding areas. It’s at full capacity and can no longer shoulder the growing volume of waste,” Hon. Ibrahim stated. “We are fully committed to addressing this situation and preventing a public health disaster.”
In response to mounting concerns from residents and local authorities, the Minister emphasised the urgency of finding a lasting solution. Following the State of the Nation Address this Friday, Ibrahim confirmed that his ministry will convene urgent discussions with John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Finance led by Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ministry of Health, and all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Greater Accra Region. These consultations will focus on implementing practical and sustainable solutions to address the crisis.
The Mayor of Tema, Ebi Bright, also added her voice to the call for immediate action. She stressed the importance of understanding the types of materials being scavenged at the landfill site.
“By gathering data on what’s being scavenged, we can better strategise on interventions before waste even reaches the site. This will allow us to tackle the issue at its source,” she noted.
The growing pressure on the Kpone Landfill is compounded by a lack of alternative disposal facilities in the region.
Eng. Bertha Essel, Head of the Waste Management Department at the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, highlighted several operational challenges at the site, including insufficient space, lack of proper waste segregation and inadequate resources to maintain the facility. These factors have exacerbated the strain on the landfill, pushing it to the brink of collapse.
“The Kpone Landfill is struggling to handle the volume of waste from the entire Tema area. If we don’t take immediate steps to expand disposal capacity and improve waste management practices, we will soon be facing an uncontrollable sanitation crisis,” Essel warned.
Hon. Ibrahim assured the public that the government is committed to resolving the situation.
“We understand the gravity of this issue, and we are already taking steps to secure more landfill sites and implement better waste management solutions across Greater Accra. This is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore, and the government is fully engaged in finding a lasting solution.”
