Mahama directs AMA, sister assemblies to prevent renewed dumping at Agbogbloshie

President John Mahama has instructed local authorities, including the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other municipal bodies, to ramp up sanitation efforts and safeguard the land being restored through the Agbogbloshie waste evacuation initiative. Mahama emphasized that the exercise's success will be determined not only by the amount of waste removed but also by the ability of local governments to prevent the site from once again becoming a dumping ground.

At the launch of the National Emergency Waste Evacuation Exercise on September 18, Mahama called for close collaboration between the assemblies, traditional leaders, community figures, and law enforcement to protect the reclaimed land. He stressed the importance of firm, equitable, and consistent enforcement of sanitation rules, emphasizing that necessary measures must be in place as the evacuation continues.

Mahama highlighted that the Agbogbloshie exercise is part of wider initiatives to restore order, enhance public health, and repurpose degraded urban areas for productive purposes. The cleared land will support the Agbogbloshie Urban Renewal Project, which aims to convert parts of the reclaimed land into an industrial zone that can generate economic opportunities and jobs.

The government has deployed heavy machinery, vehicles, personnel, and other resources for the exercise, and hopes to maintain the sanitation improvements through stronger enforcement at the municipal level. Mahama announced that equipment from the District Roads Improvement Project (DRIP) utilized in Agbogbloshie will be transferred to other districts and municipalities to aid similar waste clearance efforts as needed.

The President outlined a comprehensive national waste management strategy that includes distributing household waste bins, establishing more transfer stations, constructing engineered landfill sites, and expanding recycling facilities. He urged residents, merchants, businesses, and transport operators to assist enforcement efforts by disposing of waste appropriately and maintaining clean public spaces.

Mahama stressed that sustaining sanitation improvements requires robust institutions, consistent enforcement, and responsible behavior from citizens. He cautioned that the country cannot keep spending public money to continuously clear the same refuse heaps without tackling the underlying behaviors that cause them to resurface.