Residents of Adipa in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Constituency have given the Ghanaian government a seven-day ultimatum to halt the transfer of waste from Agbogbloshie and other parts of Accra to the Adipa Landfill Site. The residents, led by Assembly Member for the Asiyaw/Adipa Electoral Area, Emmanuel Asamoah, claim that the continued transportation and disposal of large quantities of waste at the landfill is placing an increasing burden on the community and negatively affecting their living conditions.
The development follows the government's commencement of a major 90-day operation to evacuate about one million tonnes of accumulated waste from Agbogbloshie and Jamestown in Accra. According to Mr. Asamoah, the increasing volume of waste being brought to the area is causing "unbearable hardship" for residents and contributing to environmental pollution, particularly affecting water and air quality. The community has outlined a number of demands, including an immediate suspension of waste dumping activities and an independent assessment of the environmental and health impact of the site.
The Assembly Member has called for a comprehensive clean-up and decontamination of areas affected by the dumping, with the cost to be borne by the responsible authorities. He also demands measures to prevent further dumping at the site, including the installation of permanent barriers and security arrangements. Furthermore, Mr. Asamoah has requested a public forum within seven days at which municipal authorities would be expected to present a long-term plan for managing waste in the area.
The community has warned that if no response is received within the stipulated period, they will resort to blocking access roads to the dumping site. According to Mr. Asamoah, the deadline would begin from the day of the announcement, and the residents would take action if the government, the relevant authorities, and the company operating the site fail to respond. The community's concerns have been echoed by Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP and Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who has questioned the decision to transport large quantities of waste from Greater Accra to the Adipa landfill site.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh has expressed concerns about the lack of engagement with key stakeholders in the constituency before the operation began. He has asked why Adipa was selected as the dumping site when there are other landfill sites in Greater Accra and surrounding areas. The MP has also linked the controversy to Ghana's commitments under international sustainable development frameworks, arguing that the handling and transportation of waste should conform to established principles of sustainable waste management.
The MP has referenced the Millennium Development Goals, particularly Goal 7, which addresses environmental sustainability and waste management. He has also pointed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saying that the principles contained in the global framework address how waste should be transported and handled. According to Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, Ghana is a signatory to the SDGs, and the current waste transfer arrangement should therefore be examined against the country's commitments.
The Minority Chief Whip has stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to the government's waste-clearing exercise but rather as a demand for the rights and concerns of residents to be respected. He has noted that the government has a responsibility to protect residents' rights, particularly their right to live in a clean environment. The government is yet to respond to the community's ultimatum, and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved.
Key points
- The Adipa community has given the government a 7-day ultimatum to halt the Agbogbloshie waste transfer, citing environmental and health concerns.
- The community demands an immediate suspension of waste dumping activities, an independent assessment of the environmental and health impact of the site, and a comprehensive clean-up of affected areas.
- The government's decision to transport waste from Greater Accra to Adipa has been questioned by stakeholders, who argue that it contravenes sustainable waste management principles and Ghana's international commitments.
