Ghana expected to generate 25,000 metric tons of waste daily

Ghana would soon generate 25,000 metric tons of waste daily as the population increases steadily says Professor Ernest Yanful of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The calculation is based on the average production of one kilogramme of solid waste per person daily.

He said: “We will produce more solid and liquid waste as we become middle income country because the richer you become the more you produce waste.”

Prof Yanful of the Africa Institute of Sanitation and Waste Management of the university, made this known in Accra, when he made a presentation on: “Social Accountability and Citizen participation,” at the ongoing annual New Year school in Accra.

Participants at this year’s school are discussing various topics centred on the theme: “Improving the Performance of the Local Government System in the Era of e-governance.”

Topics discussed so far includes; improving the performance of local government system in the era of e-governance, the state of local government reforms and the role of e-governance fiscal decentralization, and managing resources through e-governance

Prof Yanful said there is the need for the nation to create awareness among the citizens about waste management issues.

He lauded accountability, saying it is good because it ensures transparency, improves governance and enhances development.

He said accountability enables citizens to ask questions and demand answers.

Prof Yanful noted that in many countries waste management is tied to property tax and government assesses the revenue on the value of the citizen’s home and called on Ghanaians to build businesses around waste management.

He also called for capacity building at the district assemblies.

Prof Yanful said KNUST has introduced a programme in environmental engineering.

Source: GNA