CRITICAL AREAS OF COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE
1.0
SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT: WASTE DISPOSAL,
WASTE RECYCLING, WASTE TO ENERGY AND LIQUID WASTE
TREATMENT
It is common knowledge that Environmental Sanitation is among the
powerful drivers of human development as it affects the quality of life of
the people i.e. improving health and wealth creation. It cuts across all
sectors of the economy including those that relate to health delivery,
environmental protection, improvement of human settlements and
services, tourism and general economic productivity.
In Ghana, it comprises a number of complementary activities including
the provision and maintenance of sanitary facilities, the provision of
services, public education, regulation and legislation, funding, research
and development.
1.1
CURRENT STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AT THE
METROPOLITAN AND MUNICIPAL LEVEL
Waste Estimates
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
METROPOLITAN/MUNICIPAL
ASSEMBLY
Accra Metropolitan Assembly
(AMA)
Tema Metropolitan Assembly
(TMA)
Ga West Municipal Assembly
(GWMA)
La Nkwantanang Madina
Municipal Assembly (LaNMA)
La Dade Kotopon Municipal
Assembly (LaDMA)
Adentan Municipal Assembly
(AdMA)
Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal
Assembly (LEKMA)
Ga South Municipal Assembly
(GSMA)
Ashaiman Municipal Assembly
(AsHMA)
Ga East Municipal Assembly
(GEMA)
Ga Central Municipal Assembly
(GCMA)
1
TONNES PER
DAY
3,000
1,400
1,600
700
400
400
350
168
155
140
125
Excreta Management








1.2
Public toilets (mainly water closets, KVIPs, and aqua privies – 31%
Access to pit latrines of different levels – 22%
Households with access to KVIPs -7%
WCs (flush toilets) – 9%
Unhygienic pan or bucket latrines 4%;
Only Accra and Tema have a limited extent of sewerage systems
Few sewerage treatment plants in the Region are functional
MMDAs generally do not have the capacity to operate and maintain
such facilities
CHALLENGES
 Enforcement Management
 Inability
to
effectively
enforce
and
sanction
existing
laws/regulations;
 Breakdown of enforcement;
 Ineffective environmental sanitation management
 Narrow view of environmental sanitation issues – focus on data
collection and promotion of hygiene and improved latrines alone;
 Absence of poor implementation of District Environmental
Sanitation Strategy and Action Plans (DESSAPS);
 Ineffective co-ordination of environmental sanitation service
delivery;
 Increasing burden of managing environmental sanitation on
MMDAs budgets.
1.3
WAY FORWARD
 Deepening the level of participation of the private sector
particularly in the provision and management of waste treatment,
recycling, and disposal facilities, transfer stations and bulk waste
transfer to disposal under contract, franchise, concession, BOT,
BOOT or other arrangements;
 Provision and management of septic tankers, on a fully commercial
basis;
 Construction, rehabilitation and management of Waste Treatment
Plants;
2
2.0
CITY MANAGEMENT: BEST PRACTICES IN CITY AND URBAN
MANAGEMENT
The Greater Accra Region has a population of 4,010,054. A comparison
with the 1960 population figure of 491,817 present an eight-fold increase
within a period of 50 years from 1960-2010. The Region has the highest
population density in the country and has an annual growth rate of 3.1
per cent which is largely due to migration.
The rapid population increase has culminated in a deteriorating city
environment resulting in extensive urban sprawl, pressure on public
infrastructural services and extreme congestion particularly in the city
Centre.
As a result, the improvement of urban infrastructure such as road
networks, water supply and sewage systems and solid waste
management has become a pressing issue which requires concerted
actions not only in Accra but the sub urban districts.
2.1
PLANNING APPROACH
Mid-term and long-term comprehensive and strategic development plans
are required for the Greater Accra Sub-Region. This include the
formulation of a Spatial Development Framework for the entire Greater
Accra region; a Structure Plan to guide the development and/or
redevelopment of the area; to formulate implementation and
management plans for the Structure Plan; and to carry out relevant
technology transfer to local counterparts to induce sustainability.
An initiative to construct a coastal protection wall along the Nungua
beach at Ledzokuku-Krowor, through La and to Langma in the Ga South
Municipality would help conserve the white sandy beaches bordering the
south western coast of the Region and also boost the tourism industry.
2.2
EXPECTED OUTPUT
The implementation of these strategies are to be linked with combined
infrastructure and services development with clear orientation to socioeconomic development and paying attention to environmental
conservation and disaster management to enhance an integrated
development of the Greater Accra Region. Stakeholder co-ordination and
participation would be required in the process to forestall conflicts of
different interest groups and for the viability of the project. These consist
of government agencies, representatives of civil society, the private sector
3
including Community-Based
associations.
3.0
Organizations,
NGOs
and
business
EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES
As part of efforts to foster co-operation and build effective relationship
with development partners, periodic organization of exchange
programmes
with
the
participation
of
Ministers,
MMDCEs,
Technocrats/Administrators and Party Leaders in capacity building
programmes would strongly enhance such an agenda.
It is significant to note that management of Cities in the developing world
is structurally different and urbanization has become an emerging
national issue in Ghana. Stakeholders in urban management issues cut
across national and local governments, civil society, the media and the
private sector.
The understanding of politicians, public servants and citizens about
urban development and the need to have an inclusive approach and
environmental orientation to addressing the challenges is needed to
cause a positive change. Currently, there are varying views among
politicians, citizens and city managers in the approaches adopted in
managing urban challenges.
This has slowed down the level of
development with a lot of scarce resources spent on initiatives that are
neither sustainable nor coordinated.
As the general support and commitment of the people is required to
successfully drive the agenda, there is the need to create awareness,
share experiences and learn lessons using exchange programmes as one
of the tools. It is recognized as an opportunity to transform attitudes and
how we think and act in development co-operation. The overall objective
is to improve the local and national government management of urban
growth by exposure to good urban governance practices, networking,
agreement on and eventual implementation of follow-up actions.
4.0
AGRICULTURE: CROP AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION THROUGH
IRRIGATION
CURRENT SITUATION
Agriculture has a central socio-economic position in Ghana and in the
Region. This sector accounts for about 65 percent of the work force,
about 40 percent of the gross domestic product, and about 40 percent of
foreign currencies acquired through exports.
4
The Greater Accra region has a comparative advantage in Crop
Production in the following; Maize, cassava, rice, cowpea, mango,
pawpaw, pineapple, banana, watermelon and vegetables such as tomato,
okra, garden egg, cabbage, carrot, onions, pepper, and lettuce, etc.
Although agriculture is a key part of the country’s economy, the
structure of the sector is vulnerable because it is basically rain fed.
Droughts and other types of unseasonable weather pose risks for
farmers. Under these conditions, irrigation development offers the
promise of greater food security and the rural-area development by
ensuring year round agricultural production. Existing irrigation facilities
comprise the Dawhenya and Kpong Schemes which are noted for rice
and vegetable production, Weija Irrigation Scheme for vegetables
production.
4.1
GROWTH STRATEGIES
Growth in the agricultural economy may be achieved both through
extensification, and intensification.
Irrigation is central to the
intensification strategy. Irrigation potential is huge but untapped. The
Region has comparative advantage due to its strategic geographic
location i.e., abundant land and water resources, proximity to major
demand outlets, including European and regional markets coupled with
a reliable port and air transport system.
There is a need to balance irrigation development based on large-scale
commercial farming (mainly driven by foreign and local investment) with
smallholder-oriented irrigation development focused on rural poverty
reduction and food security.
4.2
AGRO-PROCESSING
What is lacking is the access and proximity to processing industries
especially those into fruit processing along the chain of value addition.
The growth and huge potential in the vegetable and citrus industry that
produces raw tomatoes, mangoes, pineapples, oranges and pawpaw
could serve as a reliable source of raw material for the establishment of
an agro-processing plant to add value to these agro products.
Currently, the Region is promoting small scale and cottage processing
industries including the processing of fresh milk into local cheese
(Wagashi), yoghurt etc., cashew processing into alcoholic beverages and
roasted cashew nuts, pineapple into drink and juice, processing of soya
into soya milk, soya gari, soya kebab etc.
5
5.0
SUSTAINABLE JOB CREATION: SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE
MANUFACTURING HUB/ENCLAVE
The Region has a strong potential in the development of Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises in the Manufacturing sector, Commerce and
Tourism. Salt production is an emerging potential in the Mining Sector.
These are the major economic areas that provide employment to over 80
per cent of employees in the informal sector.
5.1
CURRENT SITUATION
The current production levels of these sectors are less than 50% largely
due to the application of artisanal based technology. In fact, most of
these enterprises are small & micro and medium scale producers.
Ghana as a country has attracted a huge number of investors mainly
due to the conducive social, political and economic environment in which
they can build and grow their investments. The inflow of such
investments would potentially result in job creation and ultimately
reduce unemployment in the Region.
5.2
GROWTH STRATEGIES
It is envisaged that a realistic effort to bring such Small and Medium
Scale enterprises together will create an industrial hub or an enclave to
further boost production and create more job opportunities and
employment avenues.
In this regard, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council in
collaboration with the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies
has initiated an agenda based on the directive of the President to focus
on the SME sector and to create the conducive atmosphere to attract
investors and investments into the Region.
6.0
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS TRAINING
The Region is focused on empowering tomorrow’s leaders and thus seeks
to provide resources, programs and events that encourage leadership in
today’s youth. Our aim is to provide programs and projects for younger
generations to build self confidence, set goals, assert themselves and
become leaders and make a difference by giving back to their
communities.
6
6.1
CHINESE SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAMME
We seek Chinese government support for the introduction and retooling
of the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Program to be located at
Afienya. This is to train the youth in Information Technology, Agriculture
(Crop and Animal Farming), Carpentry (Furniture and Woodworks),
Welding and Fabrication, Catering, Dress Making and Fashion
Designing.
7.0
HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE
Unfortunately, the Region has not been able to provide affordable
housing to meet increasing demand. This has led to the springing up of
several slums in Accra. There is the urgent need for intervention from
external sources. It is important to point out that the RCC would assist
investors in acquiring well documented land for development. Thus we
propose the following:
 Provision of housing schemes for low income earners
 High rise buildings
 Alley pavement project
 Environmental management (parks, tree planting, grassing etc.)
7