Solid Waste Disposal Challenges: The Case Study of Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The management of waste is one if not the oldest challenge faced by both developed and developing countries. However, some developed countries are enjoying sound environmental quality due to the adoption of waste recovery mechanisms coupled with both economic and environmental regulatory instrument. Unfortunately, most cities in the developing world are still battling with the conventional Solid Waste Management (SWM) system, particularly, with the disposal process. Accra, the capital city of Ghana, is one of the cities in the South faced with such a challenge. Although the authorities in Accra have encouraged several stakeholders to patronise the solid waste collection system and has the biggest solid waste sorting plant in West Africa, Accra is still faced with improper disposal practices. This study, therefore, investigated into why Accra continues to face improper disposal challenges when efforts are being put in place to curb the situation. It was realised that the woe of the city as far as SWM is concern is the government’s inability to provide a proper foundation to foster a better SWM service. Thus, the government with limited financial resources is often faced with the challenge of protecting the public interest through the provision of the basic needs of the populace. Dishearteningly, the environmental pillar has become the opportunity cost to the socio-economic pillars in the sustainable development agenda in Ghana. Therefore, adopting the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) system in the SWM trajectory in Accra is a means to find resources to help take care of the country's opportunity cost in the development agenda. Nevertheless, what has not been realised is that partnering private stakeholders does not mean a victory in the service delivery since their operations are dependent on high economic returns below that much should not be expected.