The Ghana government has commenced preparations to evacuate the large volume of accumulated waste at Jamestown in Accra to the Adipa Waste Management Centre, an engineered landfill facility located at Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The move forms part of government’s efforts to tackle the growing sanitation challenges in Accra and improve solid waste management in the capital.
Mahama Ayariga Leads Assessment of Waste Management Facility
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced the planned waste evacuation after visiting the Adipa facility on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, to assess its capacity to receive waste from Jamestown.
The visit followed an inspection conducted by the Minister on Tuesday at several major waste management facilities in the Greater Accra Region, including the Jamestown and Achimota Waste Transfer Stations, the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) and the Kpone landfill.
The inspections were aimed at assessing Ghana’s existing waste management infrastructure and identifying urgent measures to address sanitation and environmental challenges in Accra.
Government Develops Emergency Waste Evacuation Plan
Following his assessment of the waste situation at Jamestown, Minister Ayariga disclosed that he had engaged the Ministers responsible for Roads and Highways, Finance and Defence to develop an emergency plan to remove the accumulated waste.
According to the Minister, the government subsequently contacted Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, who confirmed that the Adipa landfill, operated by a subsidiary of the Group, could receive the waste.
The government now plans to mobilise waste trucks, heavy-duty equipment and other logistics to transport the accumulated waste from Jamestown to the landfill.
Technical Assessment to Determine Number of Trucks
Before the evacuation begins, government will conduct a technical assessment to establish the volume of waste accumulated at Jamestown, the distance between Jamestown and Adipa, the number of trucks required and the estimated duration of the exercise.
The Director of Highways and his technical team are expected to participate in the assessment to calculate the number of trips, fuel requirements and other logistical needs.
The Roads and Highways Ministry is also expected to provide logistical support, while government engages major construction companies in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions to provide trucks and heavy machinery.
Several contractors have reportedly expressed their willingness to support the exercise voluntarily by making their equipment available.
Military to Secure Cleared Jamestown Area
The government is also planning to deploy the Ghana Armed Forces to secure areas cleared of waste after the evacuation exercise.
According to Mahama Ayariga, the military will help prevent illegal dumping, littering and encroachment by squatters after the accumulated waste has been removed.
The security arrangement is intended to ensure that the area does not return to its current condition after government invests resources in the Jamestown sanitation exercise.
Government Plans Redevelopment of Jamestown Area
The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has plans for the redevelopment of the area after the waste has been cleared.
Government is also considering temporary road closures during the waste evacuation to prevent traffic congestion from slowing down trucks.
The exercise could be scheduled for selected weekends, with specific routes temporarily closed to regular vehicular traffic to allow waste trucks to transport the refuse more efficiently.
Police officers are expected to provide security for the trucks during the exercise to ensure that the Jamestown waste evacuation is completed as quickly as possible.
Adipa Landfill Can Receive More Than 3,000 Tonnes Daily
The Operations Manager of Waste Landfill Company Ltd, Richard Omane Mensah, said the Adipa facility has sufficient capacity to receive additional waste from Accra.
According to him, the landfill can accommodate more than 3,000 tonnes of waste per day and operates 24 hours a day to maximise its capacity.
The facility currently receives between 1,500 and 1,600 tonnes of waste daily, including approximately 800 to 900 tonnes at night and 700 to 800 tonnes during the day.
Mr Mensah confirmed that the facility is prepared to receive the waste evacuated from Jamestown.
The landfill is being developed in separate cells, with additional cells introduced progressively as waste volumes increase.
Adipa Landfill Designed for Long-Term Waste Management
Mr Mensah explained that the location of the Adipa facility outside the densely developed Accra metropolis provides greater space for long-term solid waste management.
He said the facility could potentially support waste management operations for between 35 and 50 years, depending on the volume of waste received.
However, he identified the condition of some access roads as a possible challenge to the planned waste transportation exercise, noting that poor roads could slow down the movement of trucks.
Final Evacuation Plan Expected After Technical Assessment
The government is expected to finalise the Jamestown waste evacuation plan after completing the technical assessment.
The assessment will determine the total volume of accumulated waste, the number of trucks and equipment required, transportation routes, fuel requirements and the expected duration of the exercise.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to address Accra’s sanitation crisis, improve waste disposal, protect public health and strengthen Ghana’s waste management system.
Source: newsthemegh.com