NGOs- Arrest Cost of Managing Solid Waste in Ghana

BY ANIN AGYEI-

NEW AFRICA DAILY  NEWS, Accra, Ghana- THE ENVIRONMENTAL Service Providers Association (ESPA) and the Coalition of non-government organization’s (NGO) in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) is calling on the government of Ghana to immediately arrest the low charges allotted to service providers in managing solid waste.

Currently, Ghana charges an average cost of less than 10 USD in managing a tonne of municipal solid waste.

This charge is comparatively lower than the World Bank recommended fee of 30 USD for managing a tonne of waste.

The two organizations in a joint press statement to announce the coming together of ESPA and CONIWAS as one mouthpiece to ensure pro-poor environmental service delivery for all citizens demanded of government to arrest this cost deficit for sustainable waste management.

Delivering a speech at the 30th MOLE Conference in Ho in the Volta Region, the Vice President of CONIWAS, Mr Atta Arhin, stated that this low financial allocation to the Water and Sanitation Sector is abysmally and cannot sustain the sector.

Mr. Arhin said the investment in environmental sanitation has been abysmally low as well as budgetary allocation to the Ministry declining from GH¢255 million in 2017 to GH¢ 246 million 2019.

He said the inadequate financing of solid waste management coupled with high cost of operations and unrealistic tariffs further constrain the capacity of service providers to deliver the services effectively especially to the poor.

Mr. Arhin said despite the low financial allocation, delays in payment of service providers by government, high taxes on imported equipment and increasing cost of fuel is driving many service providers out of the business.

He urged government to support existing waste treatment facilities with financial incentives including, management fees, signing off-takers agreement and provide subsidies to sustainably manage these infrastructures.

The Mole conference which has been held consistently for the past 30 years brings together stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector to deliberate on Ghana’s challenges and proffer suggestions that help shape policy.

This year’s conference was under the theme “30 years of Multi-Stakeholder WASH Dialogue: Reflections and Prospects”.

BY ANIN AGYEI, NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS, AFRICA CORRESPONDENT

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