Kumasi Mayor launches ‘waste audit drive’ with Green Africa Youth to combat sanitation and flooding challenges
A clean-up and waste audit exercise has been launched in Kumasi as part of renewed efforts to tackle mounting sanitation challenges and improve waste management systems in the Ashanti Region.
The initiative, led by the Green Africa Youth Organization in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, is aimed at identifying the root causes of waste accumulation across key parts of the city.
Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the organization, Osei Tutu Aggrey Sampson, explained that the exercise goes beyond routine clean-up activities to include a detailed assessment of waste composition. According to him, the operation, which covered areas from Airport Roundabout to Manhyia Palace, focuses on analysing the types and sources of waste generated.
He noted that although clean-up exercises are frequently undertaken, there has been limited effort to understand the origins of waste. He stressed that the ongoing audit would help authorities identify specific items contributing to sanitation challenges and support assemblies in making informed decisions, including engaging appropriate waste management companies.
Mr. Sampson also cautioned residents against poor sanitation practices, particularly the indiscriminate disposal of wastewater, warning that such habits pose significant health risks. He added that effective waste management could create economic opportunities if properly harnessed.
Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, who joined the exercise, highlighted recurring flooding at the Airport Roundabout as a major concern. He attributed the situation to choked gutters filled with refuse, which obstruct the free flow of water during rainfall.
He emphasized that waste does not end up in drains on its own but is the result of human actions, criticizing the practice of dumping refuse into gutters with the expectation that rainwater will wash it away.
The Mayor further expressed concern over the high cost of managing waste in the metropolis, noting that such expenditure could otherwise be channelled into improving roads, infrastructure and other development projects across the region.
He applauded the Green Africa Youth Organization for standing firm in their resolve to keep the city clean and assured them of his continuous support to make the drive a sustainable one.
Source: Purefmonlinegh.com
