A concerned citizen has shared the disturbing level of filth in Accra, where the unpleasant sight of refuse dumped at Kaneshie and the litter-strewn pedestrian footbridge as a grim reflection of the city’s waste management challenges.
Accra, Ghana’s capital and largest city, spans 225 km² and serves as the national hub for manufacturing, finance, and transportation.
Despite its rich history and modern development, Accra is grappling with a growing waste crisis fueled by its fast-growing population of approximately four million residents.
The city generates an estimated 3,000 tons of waste daily, yet landfill sites only receive about 55% of this, with most classified as open dumps.
Improper waste disposal contributes to a myriad of problems, including flooding during the rainy season, soil and water pollution, and health risks for communities near landfills.
Residents in low-income, densely populated areas often resort to dumping waste in open spaces, drains, or burning it by roadsides.
The World Bank estimated in 2012 that poor sanitation cost Ghana’s economy $290 million annually, or 1.6% of its GDP, largely due to premature deaths linked to poor hygiene and sanitation.
These issues are exacerbated by Accra’s inadequate waste management infrastructure and services, leading to environmental and health concerns.
As Africa’s population is projected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2050, cities like Accra face mounting challenges in balancing urbanization with sustainable infrastructure.
A concerned citizen has shared the disturbing level of filth in the nation’s capital, Accra, where the unpleasant sight of refuse dumped on the road at Kaneshie and the pedestrian footbridge littered with various materials is the highlight of the city. pic.twitter.com/Cbtj3n5PgB
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) December 31, 2024
