The government has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to identify and submit suitable sites for the construction of waste transfer stations within 30 days.
The directive forms part of a broader plan to overhaul Ghana’s waste management system and establish an integrated process for waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced the directive on Saturday, October 3, during the National Sanitation Day exercise at Rawlings Park in Accra, held to mark World Cleanup Day 2026.
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other assemblies had been tasked with identifying sites measuring at least one acre for the proposed transfer stations.
According to Mr Ayariga, the initiative follows President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to improve waste management beginning at the household level.
As part of the planned system, households will be provided with two waste bins to enable the separation of organic waste from other solid waste at source.
The government also intends to replace open-bucket tricycles, commonly known as Aboboyaa, with self-loading and self-tipping waste vehicles.
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Mr Ayariga said the transition was expected to improve the transportation of refuse while creating a more efficient system for young people engaged in waste collection.
He noted that weaknesses in the waste management chain often contributed to improper disposal, particularly when residents lacked convenient access to appropriate waste disposal facilities.
The Minister said Metropolitan Chief Executives in Greater Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and other regional capitals had consequently been tasked with identifying suitable locations for transfer stations.
Assemblies in major urban areas are also expected to identify land for the development of properly engineered landfill facilities.
Mr Ayariga acknowledged that implementing the programme would require significant government investment but said the benefits of improved sanitation would extend beyond cleaner communities.
He said better waste management could contribute to improved public health, lower healthcare costs and create a more attractive environment for visitors.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, urged residents and traders to make cleanliness a daily responsibility rather than restricting sanitation efforts to National Sanitation Day activities.
A representative of the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, also called for sustained commitment from residents and traders to maintain clean communities beyond organised clean-up exercises.
