Agbogbloshie waste heap must go – Mahama Ayariga declares

Mahama Ayariga, Ghana's Minister for Local Government, has pledged to undertake a major operation to clear the enormous waste heap at Agbogbloshie. Describing the decades-long waste accumulation as a national emergency, Ayariga made its removal one of his top priorities following his recent appointment as the sector minister. He visited the site three times within his first week in office and was stunned by the sheer scale, estimating it to be as high as a 10-storey building.

Ayariga disclosed that President Mahama had directed several ministries, including Local Government, Finance, Roads and Highways, and Defence, to collaborate on a comprehensive plan for the evacuation. The operation will involve the Ghana Armed Forces, the Jospong Group, and private contractors, with technical teams using drones and artificial intelligence to determine the exact volume of waste.

The government has already mobilized resources, including 200 dump trucks, and is directing Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to release additional trucks and personnel. The waste will be transported to an engineered landfill site off the Nsawam Road, where it can be disposed of more safely and environmentally. Ayariga stressed the need for a coordinated national effort and acknowledged that the operation could cause temporary inconveniences for motorists along the Accra-Nsawam route.

He appealed to citizens to take personal responsibility for maintaining a clean environment and to churches and faith-based organizations to promote sanitation and environmental protection.