Ayariga leads technical assessment of Jamestown waste ahead of evacuation

Government officials are mobilizing resources to tackle waste management issues, with a focus on the Jamestown waste pile in Accra. Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, announced this on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a press conference at the Jamestown Waste Transfer Station.

His visit concluded a three-day examination that included inspections of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, Jamestown and Achimota Waste Transfer Stations, and the Kpone Landfill. The primary objective was to gauge the waste accumulation at Jamestown and gather essential data to guide government action. Ayariga expressed surprise at the scale of the problem, stating that authorities had underestimated its severity upon passing by previously.

The government plans to involve various ministries, including those of Local Government, Roads and Highways, Defence, Finance, and Environment, as well as contractors from the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Central regions. These entities will contribute trucks, excavators, bulldozers, and loaders, particularly equipment that may be currently idle on construction sites.

The Ministry of Local Government already possesses over 100 trucks and several heavy machinery pieces that could supplement private-sector contributions. Technical teams from Zoomlion Ghana Limited will also utilize drones to survey the Jamestown area and ascertain the waste volume. This assessment will determine the number of trucks required, the number of trips, and the expected duration of the evacuation process.

The operation will be driven by technical data, not estimations, enabling contractors to commit to specific evacuation quotas. Beyond construction firms, mining companies and major industries are being invited to collaborate via corporate social responsibility programs, through either their own equipment deployment or hiring contractors to remove designated waste quantities.

While removal of the waste is a priority, Ayariga emphasized the necessity of addressing the root causes of accumulation, enhancing community organization, and overhauling waste management systems to prevent future occurrences. He also outlined plans for the redevelopment of the Jamestown area after clearance, aiming to construct low-cost, high-rise housing along with roads, sanitation facilities, and basic infrastructure, while maintaining proximity to residents' livelihoods.

The broader objective is to demonstrate Ghana's ability to address its longstanding sanitation challenges and tackle their underlying causes. Public health benefits include the release of resources currently spent treating sanitation-related illnesses, redirecting them towards prevention. The Defence Ministry has already formed a support team, and further decisions will be made following President John Dramani Mahama's return from international engagements.

This initiative builds upon Ayariga's prior call for a comprehensive review of Ghana's waste management chain, following his September 1 tour that identified gaps in collection, transport, treatment, recycling, and disposal. The current assessment will inform both the immediate evacuation and long-term sector reforms.