To give a chosen group of waste management employees and collectors from sister assemblies the skills they need to do a Solid Waste Management Audit using the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has organized a capacity-building training session.
In partnership with UN-Habitat, the Africa Clean Cities Platform (ACCP) organized a two-day training workshop on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, with the goal of assisting Accra and its sister assemblies in obtaining precise data on waste generation, collection, and disposal; identifying any weaknesses in the city’s current waste management system; and assembling a group of trainers and field volunteers to oversee data collection and analysis throughout Accra and the surrounding municipalities.
UN-Habitat developed the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), a standardized methodology that enables cities to monitor progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.6.1, which focuses on improving waste management to reduce the negative environmental impact of cities, and assess municipal solid waste management performance, including waste collection coverage, recovery rates, and the environmental control level of disposal sites.
The participants received training on how to map trash flows in the city, evaluate landfill and recovery facilities, find plastic leakage sites and recycling opportunities, and gather and analyze data on home and non-household garbage.
Speaking at the training’s opening, Engineer Solomon Noi, AMA’s Head of Waste Management, emphasized the value of trustworthy data in tackling the city’s waste problems. He added that while Accra has serious waste management problems, there hasn’t been enough reliable data to guide the development of infrastructure and policy.
“We often see the problems, but we do not have the data to back our challenges. This audit will help us understand where we are as a city when it comes to solid waste management,” he stated.
He added that the audit would assist place Accra on the sanitation ladder and that it will be carried out in the weeks after the training. The results of the audit would be used as a starting point for creating sustainable waste management plans for Accra.
Engineer Noi also emphasized that the city’s ecology is still at risk from unregulated dumping and poor landfill management, and that the audit would offer the proof required to support improved investments and infrastructure.
“We are currently managing only a controlled dumpsite, not an engineered landfill, and this has serious environmental implications,” he pointed out.
The audit will set the groundwork for extensive waste management reforms and put the city in a position to draw in development partner support for vital trash infrastructure, according to a statement sent by Mr. Amponsah on behalf of the AMA Coordinating Director.
“This exercise is crucial for shaping a new direction for waste management in Accra. It will help us identify gaps, improve policies, and plan investments to create a cleaner and healthier city,” he noted.
UN-Habitat official Helda Wandera emphasized that the caliber of the data gathered will determine how well the audit went. Noting that erroneous data would jeopardize attempts to enhance Accra’s waste management system, she advised participants to exercise diligence.
“We hope this process will influence how Accra manages its waste in the future. If we do this right, we can achieve a more circular economy and better public health outcomes,” she said.
The workshop attendees had a candid conversation about the goals of the assessment and the ensuing action planning, and they all agreed that the audit should result in the gathering of trustworthy data to guide waste management.
Source: newsthemegh.com