Parliament calls for government-private sector collaboration to improve waste management

Ghana’s Parliament’s Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources is urging increased collaboration between the government, investors, and private waste management companies to enhance waste collection, disposal, and recycling across the nation. Committee Chairman, John Oti Bless, emphasized that both the government and private investors must back the major service providers in the sanitation sector to augment their capacity and improve service delivery.

Oti Bless made these remarks to JoyNews’ Stephen Mensah, explaining that stronger partnerships are crucial as Ghana continues to struggle with haphazard waste disposal. He appealed to government and investors engaged in sanitation issues to collaborate with major service providers to effectively meet the needs of the public. The assessment of sanitation facilities and waste management operations is part of the Committee’s nationwide efforts.

Oti Bless stressed that waste management in Ghana should encompass more than just waste collection and disposal; it should also focus on recycling and other sustainable practices to manage the escalating waste volumes. The Committee has already inspected facilities in the Oti and Volta regions, where construction work on fencing and other preparatory works is underway.

Oti Bless expressed satisfaction with the progress seen during the assessment and expressed confidence that government and other stakeholders will provide the necessary backing to ensure the facilities and initiatives are fully functional. The Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources plans to continue its nationwide monitoring exercise in additional regions, with findings aimed at informing Parliament's efforts to enhance the country's sanitation system and address gaps within it.