The Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has demanded urgent government action to resolve the nation’s escalating waste management crisis.
Speaking during a parliamentary Government Assurance Committee hearing, Hon. Shaib highlighted the severe impact of illegal dumping, a lack of designated landfill facilities, and gridlock caused by refuse trucks within his constituency and across Ghana.
The MP questioned the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, over the lack of a clear disposal strategy. “I just want to find out from you as minister of local government, what are we doing to ensure that waste is dumped at the right places? Recycled for money because we can have waste to energy and are we building capacity?” Hon. Shaib asked.
He further challenged the standard practice of awarding waste contracts to single entities, advocating for broader market participation. “Must it be always a particular company? Uh can we not spread the wealth? Can we not spread the capacity? Can we not encourage others?” he noted, adding that the current inefficiencies are causing significant traffic and security concerns.
In response, Hon. Ibrahim acknowledged the complexity of the crisis, linking it to broader infrastructure deficits.
“Waste management in fact it’s not a single problem because it has to do with waste management, issuance of building permits and water waste. So I’m one of the hardest hits when the flood issues came up,” the Minister stated. He identified prominent dump sites, including Oblogo, Choice, and an area around Makati Hill, as locations that are “becoming the security matter.”
The Minister maintained that the operational responsibility lies with local authorities rather than central government or lawmakers.
“It is not a member of parliament that answers that. It has to be the municipal assembly or the metropolitan assembly or the district assembly. They have been empowered to deal with the issue of waste.”
Hon. Ibrahim concluded by stating that the government is exploring recycling and waste-to-energy technologies, noting that several residents’ associations have already petitioned against local areas being converted into impromptu dumps.
The Government Assurance Committee confirmed it will monitor the Ministry and relevant Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to ensure proper landfill sites are established and waste collection is improved.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
