Adepa Waste Management Centre ready to receive waste from Korle Lagoon

For years, massive heaps of trash have been an all-too-common sight in various parts of the Korle Lagoon region in Accra, transforming a vital waterway into a mounting sanitation issue. As the government ramps up efforts to clear the amassed waste and restore the area, focus is turning towards the Adepa Waste Management Centre in Nsawam, Eastern Region, which is being readied to receive waste from the numerous dumpsites along the Korle Lagoon.

The center operates 24/7 and has the capacity to accept between 1,500 and 1,700 tonnes of waste each day. Site Manager, Engineer Richard Omani-Mensah explains that the facility can handle the additional waste expected from Accra. He notes that trucks carrying waste from the capital can utilize both daytime and nighttime operations to lessen traffic congestion and guarantee constant disposal.

"Considering traffic conditions, during the day you can process approximately 800 to 900 tonnes, and at night you can also manage around 700 to 800 tonnes."

Situated on approximately 200 acres of land, the facility features designated cells for the disposal and management of waste. Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, says the government is implementing measures to ensure that areas cleared of waste around the Korle Lagoon do not quickly become dumping grounds once more.

He mentioned that the military will be deployed to oversee and secure the cleared regions. "If we don't assign soldiers to supervise and secure the areas that have been cleared, people will return and dump there again," Ayariga stated.

The Minister also revealed that the government is collaborating with contractors to provide heavy-duty equipment and trucks to facilitate waste evacuation. He indicated that a meeting would be held with the contractors to coordinate their involvement, especially during weekends. "We will convene a meeting with the contractors and tell them that we do not work on Saturdays and Sundays, so let's utilize those days to assist with the exercise," Ayariga assured.

He added that the government is exploring ways to carry out the exercise without placing further financial burden on the state. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to be briefed on the arrangements as preparations continue. The planned evacuation is anticipated to involve a substantial number of trucks transporting waste from Accra to the Adepa facility, as the government strives to address the sanitation crisis around the Korle Lagoon and enhance environmental conditions in the capital.