President John Dramani Mahama says the government intends to use land reclaimed from Agbogbloshie after a major waste evacuation exercise to establish
President John Dramani Mahama says the government intends to use land reclaimed from Agbogbloshie after a major waste evacuation exercise to establish an industrial park and a textile factory.
He said the redevelopment plan forms part of the proposed Agbogbloshie Urban Renewal Project and is intended to create economic opportunities for young people after the longstanding sanitation challenge at the site is addressed.
“When we have cleared this garbage, the land that will be reclaimed and recovered is going to be an Industrial Park. We intend to establish a major textile factory here so that they can provide employment to our young people,” he said.
The President made the announcement after commissioning a 90-day operation to remove an estimated one million tonnes of accumulated waste from Agbogbloshie and transport it to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The waste volume was estimated through a drone-assisted artificial intelligence assessment.
The exercise is being coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, with support from the Ghana Armed Forces and the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP).
Funding is being provided by the Ministry of Finance, with additional support from the District Assemblies Common Fund.
President Mahama said the clean-up would also address open dumping and burning in the area, which he said had created a longstanding public health and environmental challenge.
The government is deploying DRIP equipment, including tipper trucks, excavators, bulldozers and wheel loaders, while the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is providing engineering and operational support.
The President has also directed that the bulk of the waste haulage be undertaken at night to minimise disruption and protect residents and road users along the route.
“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,” he said.
The waste will be transported to Adepa for controlled disposal, compaction and covering.
President Mahama appealed to residents of Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama to cooperate with the military, DRIP operators and assembly teams as the 90-day exercise progresses.
COMMENTS