Accra at Risk of Disease Outbreak as Landfills Reach Full Capacity
Accra is currently facing a looming threat of a disease outbreak as all landfill sites within the city have reached full capacity. This critical update was shared by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) during a recent visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources to various assemblies in the Greater Accra Region.
According to Engineer Solomon Noi, Director of Waste Management at the AMA, the situation has worsened due to the absence of engineered landfill sites and inadequate waste management systems. He noted that waste was previously disposed of at a quarry site in Nsumia, located in Ga West, but that site eventually reached capacity. Operations then shifted to Nsawam, a site shared with the Eastern Region, now under the private management of West Landforce.
Currently, the only engineered landfill site is located at Kpone, while another is under consideration in Ayidan, Ga South Municipality. However, most of the sites in use are not engineered, which poses significant environmental and health hazards. Mr. Noi highlighted that without proper infrastructure, rainwater can cause leachate—contaminated liquid from waste—to flow into rivers and other water bodies, eventually making its way back into the city and increasing the risk of disease.
He emphasized that transporting waste to distant areas does not solve the core issue, as these locations still lack proper waste treatment systems. A major concern raised was the improper handling of medical and sanitary waste. Mr. Noi pointed out that such waste is mixed with general refuse, and waste pickers—many of whom are migrants—come into contact with these hazardous materials and may unknowingly spread infections such as cholera and typhoid.
To mitigate these public health risks, Mr. Noi recommended the establishment of a modern intermediate waste treatment facility. Specifically, he advocated for a high-tech incineration plant that can effectively process non-recyclable waste such as diapers, sanitary pads, and healthcare materials. He explained that such a facility would incinerate harmful waste at high temperatures, killing pathogens before the residual ash is transported to a landfill. This, he said, would help break the cycle of disease transmission and safeguard public health.
In conclusion, the AMA is urging the government to invest in sustainable waste management solutions to prevent a looming health crisis in the capital.
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