Gov’t announces plans to replace ‘aboboyaa’ with automated waste collection vehicles

Ghana's government is planning to replace the conventional "aboboyaa" waste collection vehicles with automated trucks capable of loading and unloading waste electronically. Minister for Local Government, Mahama Ayariga, announced the proposal during a radio interview on Accra-based Citi FM. The new system aims to overhaul the country's waste management structure and eventually phase out the widely used aboboyaa tricycles.

Under the proposed model, households would pay for waste services electronically through a platform established by the government in collaboration with banks and fintech companies. The payment system would allow residents to settle their bills via mobile money, among other digital options. The operators would then be compensated based on the amount of waste they collect, with the weight of the collected waste measured at designated transfer stations.

The government is also set to introduce specially designed waste collection vehicles equipped with mechanisms to automatically load and discharge waste. These trucks would transport household waste to transfer stations, where larger trucks would pick up the waste and deliver it to landfill sites. The Minister emphasized that once these automated vehicles become available, the aboboyaa tricycles could eventually be replaced.

Furthermore, waste transfer stations would be established within a maximum distance of five kilometers from communities. These facilities would streamline the waste collection process and facilitate the efficient movement of refuse to final disposal sites, particularly in major cities. The introduction of these measures is expected to bring about a more structured and regulated waste management system, ultimately improving waste collection efficiency and environmental hygiene in Ghana.