Waste managers threaten to embark on indefinite strike over unpaid arrears

The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has issued a grave warning regarding what it characterises as the imminent failure of Ghana’s waste management system, urging the government to take prompt measures to prevent a national sanitation and public health emergency.

During a packed news conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Executive Secretary of ESPA, Ama Ofori Antwi, stated that the nation’s waste management service providers are on the brink of ceasing operations due to significant financial difficulties and extended delays in payments from government entities.

She warned that without immediate financial assistance, Ghana could experience a sanitation crisis within days, jeopardising years of advancements made in maintaining clean urban areas and safeguarding public health.

“If immediate government attention and intervention are not provided, these compounded challenges could cripple Ghana’s waste management system in a few days’ time, reversing years of progress made in keeping our cities clean and protecting public health and the environment,” Madam Ofori Antwi warned.

She noted that numerous waste management companies have incurred substantial debts from banks, creditors, and suppliers to continue their operations, but are now encountering cutoffs in financial assistance and, in some instances, legal threats due to non-payment.

She elaborated that many companies are currently unable to compensate their employees, fuel their vehicles, or maintain their equipment, which is making it increasingly challenging to carry out daily waste collection and disposal tasks throughout the country.

“Service providers who have borrowed from banks, creditors, suppliers, and other partners to sustain operations now find themselves in positions where such support has ceased, and in most cases, they are being threatened with court action,” she lamented.

ESPA disclosed that it has already reached out to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, along with pertinent parliamentary committees, in efforts to secure payments for its members.

However, Madam Ofori Antwi stated that these engagements have thus far resulted in minimal progress.

She consequently urged the government to urgently disburse all outstanding payments to ESPA members via the Ministry of Finance by November 7, 2025, to avert a shutdown across the industry.

The Executive Secretary additionally called for a reassessment of the Sanitation and Pollution Levy policy, emphasising the necessity of establishing it as a dedicated fund that directly supports the sustainability of the nation’s waste management infrastructure.

“There has been an absence of a dedicated budgetary allocation for waste management over the years,” she said.

“The sector’s financial sustainability, therefore, remains at risk, with the possibility of service disruptions if urgent attention is not given.”

She also appealed to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to reconsider the current fixed cost recovery rates paid to waste collectors, transporters, and transfer station operators.

According to her, the current rates have become economically unfeasible, making operations unprofitable for numerous service providers.

“A fair and realistic adjustment is essential to ensure business viability and the continued provision of effective sanitation services across the country,” she emphasised.