Mahama directs night haulage for Agbogbloshie waste evacuation

President John Dramani Mahama has directed that the bulk of waste being evacuated from Agbogbloshie be transported to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site at night.

The directive forms part of a 90-day operation to remove an estimated one million tonnes of waste from the Accra community.

Speaking at the commissioning of the exercise, President Mahama said night-time haulage would help protect residents, road users and communities along the transportation routes.

“We must protect the waste, the residents, road users, and the communities along the haulage routes. And that is why we are suggesting that the major haulage must take place at night in accordance with our 24-Hour Economy Initiative,” the President said.

“In the daytime, there will be some evacuation of garbage, but on a smaller scale, and then at night we go to full capacity.”

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is leading the exercise with support from the Ghana Armed Forces and the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP).

Heavy equipment, including tipper trucks, excavators, bulldozers and wheel loaders, will be deployed to clear and transport the waste.

The waste is estimated at one million tonnes based on a drone-based artificial intelligence assessment.

President Mahama said the waste would be taken to Adepa for controlled disposal, compaction and covering, with environmental safeguards required throughout the process.

The exercise is expected to take 90 days.

The government has said the clearance is part of efforts to address the longstanding sanitation and environmental problems associated with Agbogbloshie and prepare the area for redevelopment.

The President urged residents to cooperate with the personnel involved in the operation.