President Mahama Launches 90-Day Agbogbloshie Waste Evacuation to Reclaim Land for Industrial Hub

President John Dramani Mahama has officially commissioned an emergency 90-day waste evacuation exercise at Agbogbloshie, Accra, to clear an estimated one million tonnes of accumulated refuse along the Odaw River. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs with support from the Ghana Armed Forces and the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), is designed to mitigate perennial flooding and address urgent public health risks. The President emphasized that the cleanup is a vital first step in the Agbogbloshie Urban Renewal Project, which seeks to transform the site from an environmental hazard into a productive economic zone.

Central to this transformation is the government’s plan to establish an industrial park and a major textile factory on the reclaimed land. During his visit to the site, President Mahama highlighted that these facilities are intended to generate significant employment opportunities for local youth and transition the area into a modern industrial hub. The waste is currently being transported to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Sites near Nsawam. The President stressed that the success of the project hinges on stakeholder collaboration, calling for support from road contractors, fuel suppliers, and the private sector to ensure the 90-day timeline is met.

To ensure the permanence of these improvements, President Mahama issued a direct order to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and neighboring local authorities to strictly enforce sanitation laws and prevent any renewed illegal dumping. He warned against the historical cycle of clearing refuse only for it to accumulate again, asserting that success would be measured by the long-term maintenance of the reclaimed land. Local leaders and traditional authorities have also called on the community to cooperate with the exercise, despite potential temporary inconveniences, to secure the area's environmental future.

This local intervention reflects a broader national sanitation strategy recently unveiled by the administration. President Mahama announced plans to establish engineered landfill facilities in all 16 regional capitals to provide a coordinated system for waste collection and disposal. This national initiative, which includes the distribution of household waste bins and the expansion of recycling facilities, is supported by the Ministry of Finance under Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. By repurposing reclaimed landfill sites into economic assets, the government aims to create a sustainable model for urban waste management across Ghana.