What happened to lands reserved for sanitary sites? -WasteCare CEO calls for audit

Waste Care Associates' CEO, Lukman Salifu, has urged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to conduct an investigation into lands originally reserved for sanitary sites within their jurisdictions. The expert in public health engineering suggested that such an audit could help local authorities pinpoint accessible sites, evaluate encroachments, and determine if occupied land could be legally reclaimed for waste management facilities.

This recommendation was made in response to Local Government Minister Mahama Ayarigah's mandate for assemblies to allocate one acre of land for waste transfer stations and identify sites for landfill expansion.

Addressing JoyFM's SMS on October 5th, Mr Salifu questioned the current status of sanitary sites previously incorporated into community layouts. He inquired, "If they are not there, what has happened to them?" He identified encroachment as a concern that assemblies must address, adding that a potential legal recovery of affected sites should be part of the evaluation process.

Salifu emphasized that setting aside land for sanitation facilities is a recognized planning practice, citing the Town and Country Planning Ordinance of 1945, which provided for sanitary sites in communities. He viewed the minister's proposal as an opportunity to revisit this approach and assess the current relevance of the designated spaces.

According to Salifu, a previous study had identified 49 sanitary sites, serving as a starting point for assemblies to examine the present condition of these locations. He stated, "There’s a study that was done and 49 of such sites were already identified. So I think that the assemblies can quickly go back and do an audit, as I said, to see whether they are available."

In cases where assemblies might face difficulties in securing suitable land where designated sites have been occupied and cannot be recovered, Salifu suggested that alternative arrangements would be required. He also explained that waste transfer facilities could vary, ranging from communal container sites with some sorting to larger stations that consolidate waste for transportation.

Salifu advocated for separating organic and inorganic waste at the household level through a two-bin system, claiming this could enhance treatment options and facilitate energy recovery. Despite recognizing the ongoing need for landfills alongside modern waste treatment technologies, he urged Accra to prioritize waste-to-energy solutions. "I think we lost our way a bit, but it’s good to go back and build from the ground," he concluded.