The Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Assembly has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Green Africa Youth Organisation to reduce its reliance on the Oti Landfill amid fears of a possible ban by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly is considering restricting other districts in the Ashanti Region from accessing the landfill to prevent a sanitation crisis at the site.
Managed by the KMA, the Oti Landfill serves Kumasi and about 13 adjoining municipalities and districts, including Atwima Nwabiagya. The facility receives between 2,000 and 3,000 tonnes of waste daily, far above its design capacity, creating serious operational challenges and the risk of closure.
To avert a sanitation crisis should the restriction be enforced, the Assembly has partnered with Green Africa Youth Organisation to implement the Zero Waste for Sustainable Cityscape Project.
Under the agreement, the Assembly is expected to allocate land for a material recovery facility, an urban demonstration garden, and facilitate approval processes for the project’s implementation.
Green Africa Youth Organisation will provide the technical expertise and resources needed to execute the initiative.
Speaking in an interview, Sampson Osei Tutu Aggrey said the project aims to divert as much waste as possible from landfills, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and burning pits, while repurposing it into a blue circular economy for the municipality.
He said the intervention became necessary after the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly warned it could bar the municipality from disposing of waste at the landfill, creating an urgent need for alternative solutions.
“We came to sign an MoU with the municipality in order to partner on managing the sanitation crisis at hand. The Oti landfill has drawn public attention recently, as several assemblies, including Atwima Nwabiagya South, are at risk of losing access for waste disposal due to capacity constraints. We cannot stand by while the municipality faces this challenge when we have a viable solution,” he said.
He added that the initiative will promote waste segregation, recycling, composting and circular economy practices within the municipality.
The project also seeks to strengthen waste management systems, reduce air pollution, promote community awareness and support sustainable development.
The Municipal Coordinating Director for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Eric Anarfi, praised Green Africa Youth Organisation for what he described as a futuristic project, saying it would have an immediate impact on waste management in the municipality.
He noted that the project would help the Assembly introduce waste segregation, reduce the cost of waste management and create jobs for residents, particularly the youth.
“GAYO’s intervention comes at the right time, as we are currently facing challenges with waste management. By helping us manage waste properly, it will also generate employment for our community people, particularly the youth,” he said.
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