Ghana Minister Mahama Ayariga calls for urgent action on Agbogbloshie waste

Ghanaian Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has called for urgent collective action to address the nation’s sanitation and environmental challenges. During the launch of the Second Ecumenical Convention, Ayariga expressed concern over the country’s declining reputation regarding cleanliness, noting that citizens are increasingly comparing Ghana’s sanitation standards to those of Rwanda.

A primary focus of the Minister’s address was the massive waste accumulation at Agbogbloshie, which he described as being as high as a 10-storey building. He highlighted the environmental risks posed to nearby critical institutions, including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Makola Market, and the National Mosque.

To address the crisis, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministries of Local Government, Finance, Roads and Highways, and Defence to create a coordinated cleanup plan. The Military Engineering Regiment has been engaged for the operation, and a landfill site along the Nsawam Road has been identified for waste disposal. Ayariga emphasized that the government is currently assessing the logistics and resources required to clear the site.