Minority calls for dedicated sanitation fund to improve waste management in Ghana

The Minority in Ghana's Parliament is advocating for a dedicated sanitation fund to secure consistent funding for waste management and sanitation services nationwide. Deputy Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, Ralph Poku-Adusei, highlighted the issue during an interview with JoyNews' Stephen Mensah.

Poku-Adusei expressed concern over insufficient funding at the local government level, which is hindering progress in addressing Ghana's sanitation problems. He questioned how municipalities with limited sanitation personnel, such as those employing only eight sweepers, could effectively maintain cleanliness in their communities.

Poku-Adusei also pointed out the absence of permanent contracts with waste management companies in several districts and municipalities, which jeopardizes the ability of local authorities to ensure regular waste collection and sanitation services. He emphasized that Ghana should shift from merely collecting and disposing of waste to developing systems capable of processing waste into valuable resources.

Poku-Adusei cited examples from other countries where technologies like biogas are used to generate electricity from waste, suggesting that Ghana has yet to reach this stage due to ongoing challenges in waste collection, landfill management, and open defecation. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources is currently evaluating waste management facilities and processes across the country.

The Minority party believes that a dedicated sanitation fund would provide more stable financing for waste collection, processing, and other sanitation services, particularly at the district and municipal levels. They argue that stronger, more sustainable financing is crucial for Ghana to progress from basic waste collection to modern waste processing and resource recovery systems.