Policy Analysis And Evaluation Report

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction

The problems facing developing countries in the handling of municipal solid and liquid wastes are not impossible to solve but they need concerted effort from all sectors of society. Municipal solid waste management is the responsibility of every resident. An all inclusive approach should be adopted in order to achieve any meaningful and lasting solution" Henry et al (2006)

Management of Solid waste is stressed on in the Environmental Sanitation Policy (ESP) which was published in 1999 by the Ministry of Local Government. In the policy, Sanitation is constructed to have a broader meaning than solid waste [1] .

The main goals described in the policy are

to develop a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all settlements

to promote the social, economic and physical well-being of all sections of the population.

It comprises of various activities including the construction and maintenance of sanitary infrastructure, the provision of services, public education, community and individual action, regulation and legislation.

At the implementation stage, a Metropolitan Assembly (MA) as an example is to set goals and standards to manage solid waste either directly or indirectly of which the MA should have the capacity to provide at least 20% of the service. This is not only for contingency purposes but also provide bench-mark information on contractors cost streams (Oteng-Ababio 2010).

The evaluation of policy on the Solid Waste Management was undertaken on its implementation in 2000 to 2010 with Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) as a case study. This is to see if the has been a change in sanitation situation in the city of Accra. In evaluating the Policy on SWM, the criterion employed was the effectiveness of the policy. In all, fifteen (15) key indicators were chosen based on the official goals to evaluate the SWM policy.

Outcome on Goal Achievement

AMA collects 0% of solid waste as at 2010

Inadequate data available for the number of equipments provided by AMA

AMA recovers 30% of the total cost in solid waste management

As at 2010, total coverage of solid waste collection was 80%

Data needed for number of monitoring through official interview at the AMA.

PS collects 100% of solid waste as at 2010

Inadequate data available over the internet for number of equipment provided by the PS. Needs special interview at the AMA and the PS involved.

Number of Contractors working in solid waste management stands at 9 in 2010

Number of landfills constructed is 0 as at 2010

As at 2010, there were 9 Partners in all with Zoomlion gh. Ltd doing the greater chunk of the solid waste management of which citizens are very much satisfied with their services.

Inadequate data available on number of campaigns done per year needs official interview.

Inadequate data available on number of polluters prosecuted. Needs an official interview.

No data available on degree of regulations enforced needs an official interview

48% of citizens in the city of Accra are satisfied with the solid waste collection service.

No data available on the number of standards observed needs an official interview.

Factors contribution to goal achievement

Factors in Goal Achievement

Significance

Private Sector Participation

Has been very effective

Overall Hygienic Coverage

Has improved

Funding

Inadequate

Community Involvement

Inadequate

Poor Attitudes of Individuals towards SW disposal

Not changed

Human resources

Inadequate

Research support

Inadequate

Law enforcement

Inadequate

Policy on Solid Waste Management

Lack systematic and comprehensive approach in managing of solid waste

Alternative factors in Goal Achievement

Significance

Changing Compositions of Solid Waste

Increasing plastics making waste management more complex. Contributes a lot in littering and choking of drains and gutters.

Solid Waste generation and Rapid Population growth

Makes solid waste management difficult if not controlled

Waste collection and the uncontrolled

There has been an improvement in collection but then the uncontrolled sometimes find their ways into streams, drains and gutter which causes flooding and high cost in clearing of drains and gutters. Also high cost in treating drinking water.

Human Settlement and Road Networks

Mostly unplanned causing difficulty in solid waste collection.

Conclusions

A quick flashback to recapture memories of what the environmental sanitation was a decade ago; it can be said with confidence that the policy has helped a lot to improve the situation to about 30%. There had been great challenges as a municipal like AMA battles with the issue of effective and sustainable waste management. The reality of the problem is in the wake of high rate of population increase and rapid urbanization coupled with the low income levels of citizens.

Interestingly, as the burden of waste grows heavier day by day, the capacity of AMA to effectively manage the situation grew weaker and weaker in the light of increasing cost of waste management against the limited resources being competed for by several other basic needs of the society.

The new private sector partnership arrangement is the best means which has helped in improving the situation. This is because, the private sector (with Zoomlion Ltd as an example), has injected huge sums of capital into the operations and the introduction of several technologies and systems of waste management. This includes tricycle concept, free bin promotion, the sanitation improvement package and best of all the ongoing construction of composite and sorting plant which is 80% near completion (Zoomlion 2011).

Again, it should be noted here that, littering and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste by individuals is a major concern in the metropolis which needs to be addressed.

Recommendations

Solid waste management has a key role to play in the socio-economic development processes while the effectiveness and safety of disposal systems should be taken seriously. Therefore, there is the need to see solid waste as a great economic resource, to promote reduce of waste, segregation, reuse, recycling, composting and possibly incineration supported by all sections of the society.

Hence, it is useful to have a National Solid Waste Management Policy in place to capture the evolving process with respect to laws, institutions, financial mechanisms, technology and infrastructure and stakeholder participation.

These actions are very necessary to effectively manage solid waste. This can be done in the short (1month to 12months), middle (1 to 2years) and long (1-5) terms. The actions are to be taken by AMA, the government of Ghana and all stakeholders.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

AMA Accra Metropolitan Assembly

DA District Assembly

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ESP Environmental Sanitation Policy

GIS Geographic Information Management

MLGRD Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development

MMDA Metropolitan/Municipal District Assembly

NDC National Democratic Congress

NPP New Patriotic Party

NSWMC National Solid Waste Management Commission

NSWMP National Solid Waste Management Policy

NYEP National Youth Employment Programme

PS Private Sector

SWM Solid Waste Management

SWMIS Solid Waste Management

Introduction

Preamble

"The problems facing developing countries in the handling of municipal solid and liquid wastes are not impossible to solve but they need concerted effort from all sectors of society. Municipal solid waste management is the responsibility of every resident. An all inclusive approach should be adopted in order to achieve any meaningful and lasting solution."

--Henry et al (2006) [2] .

Evaluation Approach

This report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of an evaluation of policy on Solid Waste Management, the city of Accra as a case study. The policy document is the Environment Sanitation Policy which was approved in 1999 by Ghana Government.

Mode of Data Collection

This policy evaluation on SW relied heavily on internet resources, sector publications, research thesis and articles in journals. All of these were internet resources. However, the data collected were checked for consistency and reliability of the source cited by the authors.

Analysis of policy on Solid Waste Management

Management of Solid waste is stressed on in the Environmental Sanitation Policy (ESP) which was published in 1999 by the Ministry of Local Government. In the policy, Sanitation is constructed to have a broader meaning than solid waste [3] .

The main goals described in the policy are

to develop a clean, safe and pleasant physical environment in all settlements

to promote the social, economic and physical well-being of all sections of the population.

It comprises of various activities including the construction and maintenance of sanitary infrastructure, the provision of services, public education, community and individual action, regulation and legislation.

Problems and constriaints cited in the ESP

The sanitation status of Ghana leaves much to be desired [4] . At the time the policy came into force, less than 40% of the urban residents were served by a solid waste collection service and the rural dwellers were served even less or not at all. Also, even where wastes were removed, most were disposed of in an unsanitary manner thereby posing serious risks to human health and the environment, including water resources. Again, at the household level, poor hygienic practices by individuals and communities are compounded by insufficient and ineffective hygiene education.

These factors were having a serious health impact as more than half of all reported diseases were related to poor environmental sanitation thereby depleting the national resources in terms of social and economic cost. Water pollution by indiscriminate dumping also increases the technical difficulty and cost in providing drinking water for the citizens. In addition, the sight and smell of inadequately manage waste constitute a major discomfort to citizens and visitors to the country [5] .

The Underlying causes were indentified in the ESP as

Lack of clear national goal or vision of environmental sanitation as an essential social service and major determinant of the standard of living

Lack of a formally constituted environmental sanitation sub-sector in the government system of the sector development

Lack of comprehensive policy assigning responsibilities for environmental sanitation to the relevant Ministries and agencies, resulting in overlaps, gaps and poor co-ordination in the management of programmes and services

Lack of technical capacity in Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to orient and support the District Assemblies(DA) in the provision of environmental sanitation services

Attempts to transfer to the Assemblies environmental sanitation functions performed by Ministries and the central Government agencies’, without transferring the accompanying budgets, personnel and equipments

Weal and/or outdated and poorly enforced environmental sanitation legislations

Inadequate allocation of resources for the environmental sanitation services, both nationally and at district level

Lack of adequate professional manpower including engineers, planners and administrator, for planning, management, policy formulation and research (G. o. Ghana 1999).

Strategies Outlined

In response to the objectives and the problems outlined by the ESP, the following strategies were brought forward to promote accelerated development of the sector to be achieved by 2020.

Formal establishment of environmental sanitation as a sub-sector within the national development programme;

Rationalisation of institutional objectives and functions at all levels, including delineation of responsibilities and the establishment of inter-agency linkages;

Establishment of a National Environmental Sanitation Policy Coordination Council within the MLGRD;

Establishment of a National Environmental Sanitation Day to be observed one day in a year by all citizens;

Development and strengthening of the community's role in environmental sanitation;

Development of human resources and strengthening institutional structures for managing environmental sanitation;

Assigning delivery of a major proportion of environmental sanitation services to the private sector through contract, franchise, concession and other arrangements;

Development of a strong legislative and regulatory framework, and capacity for supervising environmental sanitation activities and enforcing standards;

Promotion of research to review sanitation technologies;

Identification and dissemination of cost-effective, appropriate, affordable and environmentally friendly technologies to address environmental sanitation needs;

Adoption of the cost recovery principle in the planning and management of environmental sanitation services. (G. o. Ghana 1999)

Role of the DA in Solid Waste Management

The ESP gives the primary responsibility for solid waste management on the District Assemblies (DA), who should in intend contract the private sector to provide 80% of the services. It also confers that the services must be provided reliably and continuously to migrate the negative effects of the social and economic activity in human settlements [6] .

While regulatory authority is vested in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), general solid waste (SW ie domestic waste) management in Ghana is the responsibility of the MLDRD, which supervises the MMDAs. The MMDAs are responsible for the collection and the final disposal of SW through the Waste Management Departments (WMDs) (T. Ghana 2009).

Policy Implementation at a Metropolian Assembly

A Metropolitan Assembly (MA) is to set goals and standards to manage solid waste either directly or indirectly of which the MA should have the capacity to provide at least 20% of the service. This is not only for contingency purposes but also provide bench-mark information on contractors cost streams (Oteng-Ababio 2010).

Summary

The solid waste management decision-making framework in relation to the Metropolitan/Municipal District Assemblies (MMDA) is as shown in figure 1.Waste management decision-making framework.jpg

Figure Solid Waste Management decision-making framework

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly

Introduction

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is one of key actors in the implementation of the ESP at the local level. AMA mission statement is "to raise the living standard of the people of the city, especially the poor, vulnerable and excluded by providing and maintaining basic service and facilities in the area of education, health, sanitation and other amenities’ ( World Bank 2010). Figure 2 show the location of AMA in Ghana.A map of Ghana Showing AMA.jpg

Figure A map of Ghana showing the location of AMA: adapted from (Oteng-Ababio 2010)

AMA’s goals on SWM

One of the functions of the AMA is to provide a sound sanitary and healthy environment of which solid waste management is an essential part. The central goal on SWM is to manage SW effectively through the means cited in the ESP.

This goal is divided into sector goals which is are

Directly manage 20% of SW

Indirectly manage 80 % of SW through the private sector

Construct and manage sanitary landfills

Build partnership with the private sector to effectively manage SW

Prevent littering and indiscriminate dumping of SW by individuals

Enforce regulations

Improve community participation

Observe standards

Goals and Means

In achieving the above stated goals, AMA deploy various means and activities to manage SW through the Waste Management Department of the assembly. The means are as described below.

Goa 1 Directly manage 20% of SW

Means

Collect and dispose 20% of the SW by WMD

Provide equipment to collect and dispose SW by AMA

Mobilize revenue from the SW collection service from citizens to sustain the management of SW

Build the capacity of staff to manage solid waste properly

Monitor service delivery internally or that to be delivered by the private sector

Goal 2 indirectly manage 80 % of SW through the private sector

Means

Collect and dispose 80% SW by Private Sector(PS)

Provide equipment to collect and dispose SW by PS

Train PS staff on hygienic handling of SW by PS

Recover cost of service by PS

Goal 3 Construct and manage sanitary landfills

Means

Acquire land for landfills and protect it from encroachment

Employ experts to select areas suitable for landfills based on EPA’s criteria

Construct standard landfills

Maintain landfills in hygienic manner

Goal 4 Build partnership with the private sector

Means

Promote competition among the PS in the management of waste

Award contracts to PS to manage 80% of SW

Encourage PS to invest into recycling of SW

Invite PS to participation in the decision process in the management of SW

Goal 5 Prevent littering and indiscriminate dumping by individuals

Means

prosecute polluters

create awareness among citizen of the implications of their actions

educate the public on keeping their surroundings clean

Goal 6 Enforce regulations

Means

Develop by-laws for SWM

Goal 7 Improve community Participation

Means

Celebrate the Sanitation Day each year by teaming up with the community to cleanse their surroundings

Promote waste reduction among the community

Build trust among the community by engaging them in the decision making process in managing SW

Goal 8 Observe standards

Means

Encourage research into SWM technology

The summary of the goals and means of AMA in the SWM is as shown in the Policy Tree in figure 3. A causal model has been drawn for the policy on SWM and it is a shown in figure 4.

Summary

Over ten (10) years, AMA has been using the means stated above in the SWM through its WMD. During this period, there had been twice change of government: with political parties namely the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Party (NDC). As these changes in government were made by voting, the Chief Executives were also changed as that position is by political appointment.

Solid Waste Management Policy Tree

Figure Policy Tree (Source: Drawn from Data)

Figure Causal Model drawn for policy in SWM by AMA

Political and Administrative System

Introduction

Residents of the city of Accra are governed by AMA, which carries out legislative, deliberative and executive functions. The AMA is run by a corporative body like other DA in Ghana, and consists of 90 members, 60 of whom are elected and 30 of whom are appointed by government ( World Bank 2010).

For administrative purposes, the city of Accra governed by AMA is divided into 11 sub-metropolitan districts councils, commonly called Sub-Metros. Figure 5 shows the 11 sub-metros in the city of Accra.Map1_Location_Submetro.jpg

Figure Administrative divisions of the City of Accra into 11 Sub – Metros

Adapted from ( World Bank 2010)

City Demographics

The City of Accra is made up of Eleven Sub Metropolitan District Councils namely Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Ablekuma South, Ashiedu Keteke, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso West, La, Okaikoi North, Okaikoi South and Osu Klotey. The total land area of the Assembly is 173 square kilometres (AMA, City of Accra-AMA 2011). Currently, it is estimated that 4.5 million people reside in the capital city and over 1 million visitors operate in the capital for various businesses daily (AMA 2011). Figure 6 shows the population density of Accra as adapted from ( World Bank 2010).

Figure A map showing the population density of the city of Accra: Map1_PopulationDensity_AccraMetro.jpg

Adapted from ( World Bank 2010)

Household income and residental classes

The majority (47%) of households in the City report a monthly income of between 100-500 new Ghana Cedis. Around 21% of households report having a very low monthly income of less than 100 new Ghana Cedis. Approximately 16% of households report very high monthly incomes of 1,000 new Ghana Cedis or more ( World Bank 2010). Figure 7 demonstrates the household income within the city where as figure 8 shows the spread of income within the Sub-Metros.

Four classes of Residential Areas or neighborhoods exist in the City. These were established in 2002 when census data helped define localities, where income levels, housing characteristics and environmental conditions were similar. The four Residential Areas, defined by average annual per capita household income in 2000 are:

1st Class Residential Areas (+/-Cedis 12,462,499 /US$1,519.82);

2nd Class Residential Areas (+/-Cedis 7,242,187 /US$883);

3rd Class Residential Areas (+/-Cedis 6,509,090 /US$793); and,

4th Class Residential Areas (<Cedis 6,509,090 /<US$793).

Many residential areas contain a mix of Residential Area classes ( World Bank 2010).

Figure Household income within the city of Accra (Source: Drawn from data)

Figure The spread of household Income with the Sub-Metros (source: Drawn from Data)

Summary

Residents of the city of Accra are governed by AMA, which carries out legislative, deliberative and executive functions. The City of Accra is made up of Eleven Sub Metropolitan District Councils. Currently, it is estimated that 4.5 million people reside in the capital city and over 1 million visitors operate in the capital for various businesses daily (AMA 2011)

The majority (47%) of households in the City report a monthly income of between 100-500 new Ghana Cedis. Four classes of Residential Areas or neighborhoods exist in the City.

Evaluation of the Policy on SWM

Introduction

As Ghana aspires to middle-income status by 2020, a healthier and wealthier population will tend to generate more of all waste types (domestic, commercial, institutional, industrial and hazardous). There is, therefore, need for urgent action based on a clear national strategy (policies, plans and programmes) to manage this trend, supported by sustainable financing (MLGRD 2010).

In view of the statement above, the need is to evaluation the policy on the Solid Waste Management since its implementation from 2000 to 2010 and to see if the has been a change in sanitation situation in Accra.

Evaluation Criteria

In evaluating the Policy on SWM, the criteria to be employed here is the effectiveness [7] of the policy. This implies that, a judgement is going to be placed on the degree to which the stated goals has been achieved as well as an observation of the contribution made by the policy (Lulofs n.d.)

Key Indicators

A set of indicators chosen are based on the official goals of the SWM policy. Table I summaries the key indicators for measuring the degree of goals attainment.

Table Key Indicators

Goal Number

Name of Goal

Indicators

Goal 1

Directly manage 20% of SW

% share of total SW collected

Number of equipments provided

% of revenue mobilized to recover cost

% collection coverage per total population

Number of monitoring done per year

Goal 2

Indirectly manage 80 % of SW through the private sector

% share of total SW collected

Number of equipments provided

No of contractor managing SW

Goal 3

Construct and manage sanitary landfills

Number of landfills constructed and managed

Goal 4

Build partnership with the private sector to effectively manage SW

Number of Partners in managing SW

Goal Number

Name of Goal

Indicators

Goal 5

Prevent littering and indiscriminate dumping by individuals

Number of campaigns per year

Number of polluters prosecuted per year

Goal 6

Enforce regulations

Degree to which regulation are being enforced: Either yes or no

Goal 7

Improve community participation

Percentage of citizens who trust the AMA in delivery of waste collection services

Goal 8

Observe standards

Number of Standards observed and adapted for the past 10 years

Goal acheviement

Goal Achievement Outcomes based on selected indicators

Goal 1 Directly manage 20% of SW by AMA

Indicators

Percentage share of total SW collected

Figure AMA share in total waste collection

Remark: AMA collects 0% of solid waste in 2010.

Number of equipments provided

As at 2004, AMA has firth-four (54) skip trucks which were aged and not reliable. Also the number of central waste containers had diminished in number from 600 to 300 due to rusting of the metal (Archer 2004). However, there is no data available on the current number of equipments.

Remark: Inadequate data available

Percentage of revenue mobilized to recover cost

Figure Percentage of recovery of cost

Remark: AMA recovers 30% of the total cost in solid waste management

Percentage of collection coverage per total population

Figure Time Series of Solid Waste Coverage in Accra Metro

Remark: As at 2010, total coverage of solid waste collection was 80%

Number of monitoring done per year

No data found on the internet to tell the number of monitoring done by AMA within a year.

Remark: Data needed through official interview at the AMA.

Goal 2 Indirectly manage 80 % of SW through the private sector

Indicators

Percentage share of total SW collected

Figure PS Percentage share of total waste collected

Remark: PS collects 100% of solid waste as at 2010

Number of equipments provided

The private sector provides equipments and designs their service of the waste pre-collection and supports it by placing central containers at approved strategic sanitary sites. They also give free collection bins to ensure 100 percent coverage. This has been more effective from 2006 but the numbers of the equipment is not available over the internet.

Remark: Inadequate data available over the internet. Needs special interview at the AMA and the PS involved.

No of contractors managing SW

At the end of 2010, the number of contracts awarded to the Private Sector to manage waste was nine (9) as shown in the figure below.

Figure Number of Contractor

Remark: Number of Contractors working in solid waste management stands at 9 in 2010.

Goal 3 Construct and manage sanitary landfills

Indicator

Number of landfills constructed and managed

The Government of Ghana decided in late 2010 to abandon the development of the Kwabenya landfill in the city of Accra, a World Bank project which was on going. Therefore, as at the end of 2010, no sanitary landfills were constructed. However, there were a number of dumpsites which were in use though they are almost filled to capacity.

Remark: Number of landfills constructed is 0 as at 2010

Goal 4 Build partnership with the private sector to effectively manage SW

Indicator

Number of Partners in managing SW

Table Contractors in SWM in Accra and their respective designated Areas

Number

Service Provider

Designated Area

1

Yafuru/Almanuel/Catrol

Okaikoi North

2

Aryeetey Brothers Co Ltd.

Ayawaso East

3

Asau Royal Waste Ltd

Ablekuma North

4

Dabe Cleansing Ltd

La

5

J. Stanley Owusu & Co Ltd

Okaikoi South

6

Jekora Ventures

Osu Clottey

7

Liberty Waste Ltd.

Ablekuma South

8

Meskworld Limited

Ashiedu Keteke

9

Zoomlion gh. Ltd

Ayawaso West

10

Zoomlion gh. Ltd

Ayawaso Central

11

Zoomlion gh. Ltd

Ablekuma Central

Source AMA

Remark: 9 Partners in all with Zoomlion gh. Ltd is doing the greater chunk of the solid waste management.

Goal 5 Prevent littering and indiscriminate dumping by individuals

Indicators

Number of campaigns per year

AMA engages the public in clean up exercises within the Metropolis every once every month. During this period, the public is made to be aware of the health implications on littering and indiscriminate dumping. There are also NGO’s and the private sector who are also educating the public in their campaigns which started not long. The number of official campaigns is not known.

Remark: Inadequate data available needs official interview.

Number of polluters prosecuted per year

In 2009, an effort was made by AMA to stop incidence of the littering, especially of plastic waste in the city of Accra, it embarked on a special exercise to arrest and prosecute offenders. The exercise, which began August 2009, resulted in the arrest of 13 people, three of whom are serving various prison terms at the Nsawam Prisons. Others were also charged with sums ranging from 24- 360 Ghana cedis (ModernGhana 2009).

Remark: Inadequate data available needs official interview.

Goal 6 Enforce regulations

Indicator

Degree to which regulation are being enforced: Either yes or no

Remark: No data available needs official interview.

Goal 7 Improve community participation

Indicators

Percentage of citizens who trust the AMA in delivery of waste collection services

In order to involve the community in the SW, AMA in collaboration with the World Bank introduced a number of initiatives in 2009. This is to improve the services for the city citizens and the figure below tells how satisfied the resident’s are with the SW collection services.

Map1_SatisfactionWithCollectionService_AccraMetro.jpg

Figure A map showing resident's satisfaction with waste collection

Remark: 48% of citizens in the city of Accra are satisfied with the solid waste collection service

Goal 8 Observe standards

Number of Standards observed and adapted for the past 10 years

Remark: No data available needs official interview.

Factors contributing to the effectiveness of SWM in Accra

Private Sector Participation

The private sector has been quite successful in terms of improving total waste clearance in Accra. The greater share of responsibility rests on the shoulders of PS thus performing nearly 100% of the waste collection.

Figure Solid Waste Collection by AMA and PS

Overall Hygienic Coverage

Thirdly, about 49% of the households have their waste picked-up at their homes. They picked daily, twice or once a week. The picked-up is by either the PS or the informal collectors. 51% of the population need to find central containers provided in the neighbourhoods ( World Bank 2010). If citizens feel lazy to walk to such containers, they are force to dump the waste anywhere. This is more common in the slum areas of the city. The figure 19 tells the perceptions of the city by city residents.

Figure Residents (%) Perceptions of City Cleanliness: adapted from ( World Bank 2010)

Funding

AMA receives 70% subsidies from the Ghana government in managing the SW as only 20% of the total population pays for the services and the other 80% gets the services of charge ( World Bank 2010).

Community Involvement

Community has been involved in cleansing of the city which contributes immensely in keeping the city clean but its inadequate.

Poor Attitudes of Individuals towards SW disposal

Few people are willing to pay for collection and disposal of waste. Some individuals still litter and dump SW indiscriminately due to the fact that they are one way or the other unaware of the dangers that their actions poses.

Human resources

There has been an increase in the labour force handling SW collection and disposal within AMA and PS thanks the government initiative dubbed "The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) (AGYEPONG 2011). However, the experts in the field of waste management are very few due to the fact that none of the universities in Ghana train students to become waste managers.

Research support

Research base in the SW is inadequate as the private sector is left to do with trial and error (AGYEPONG 2011). The Universities in Ghana does not research in the area of waste management neither is there developed public sector research infrastructure.

Law enforcement

Political parties campaign to get votes, this hinders the government in power to take appropriate measures to prosecute polluters as the fear to lose elections. This makes individuals liberal to pollute.

Policy on Solid Waste Management

There are so many policies which passes a comment on SWM. There are overlaps in mandates of institution involved in SW.

Alternative Factors contributing to the effectiveness of SWM in Accra

Changing Compositions of Solid Waste

While the rate of waste generation in Accra is increasing, the composition of the waste is becoming more complex (Huober 2010). Organic still constitutes greater portion of the waste with increase in plastic which both a blessing and a curse. The use of plastic materials has helped to curb the feature with which food and water related disease was spreading. However, plastics create new waste management problem since are non biodegradable (Huober 2010).

Figure Solid Waste Compostion:Data from (Oteng-Ababio 2010)

Solid Waste generation and Rapid Population growth

There is rapid growth of the city’s population with increasing economic and human activities. This also increases the rate at which waste is generated. Meanwhile citizens are not educated to reduce waste. The histogram below shows the waste generated per day as compared with that collected.

Figure Average tonnage generated and collected per day: Data from (ANOMANYO 2004) and (Oteng-Ababio 2010)

Waste collection and the uncontrolled

Waste collection in Accra has improved for the past 5 years but yet there some waste which are uncontrolled which sometimes find their way in to drains and gutters. This cause flooding as the drains and gutters in the city become choked as shown in the cover page. The figure below shows the percentage of waste collected as against that uncontrolled within the city of Accra.

Figure Solid Waste Coverage in Accra Metro

Human Settlement and Road Networks

Most areas are unplanned therefore has no or bad roads. This makes it extremely difficult for the households to enjoy the house to house waste collection service.

Summary

The need is to evaluation the policy on the Solid Waste Management since its implementation from 2000 to 2010 and to see if the has been a change in sanitation situation in Accra. In evaluating the Policy on SWM, the criteria to be employed here is the effectiveness. Fifteen (15) key indicators were chosen based on the official goals to evaluate the SWM policy.

Outcome on Goal Achievement

AMA collects 0% of solid waste as at 2010

Inadequate data available for the number of equipments provided by AMA

AMA recovers 30% of the total cost in solid waste management

As at 2010, total coverage of solid waste collection was 80%

Data needed for number of monitoring through official interview at the AMA.

PS collects 100% of solid waste as at 2010

Inadequate data available over the internet for number of equipment provided by the PS. Needs special interview at the AMA and the PS involved.

Number of Contractors working in solid waste management stands at 9 in 2010

Number of landfills constructed is 0 as at 2010

As at 2010, there were 9 Partners in all with Zoomlion gh. Ltd doing the greater chunk of the solid waste management of which citizens are very much satisfied with their services.

Inadequate data available on number of campaigns done per year needs official interview.

Inadequate data available on number of polluters prosecuted. Needs an official interview.

No data available on degree of regulations enforced needs an official interview

48% of citizens in the city of Accra are satisfied with the solid waste collection service.

No data available on the number of standards observed needs an official interview.

Table Summary on Factors contribution to goal achievement

Factors in Goal Achievement

Significance

Private Sector Participation

Has been very effective

Overall Hygienic Coverage

Has improved

Funding

Inadequate

Community Involvement

Inadequate

Poor Attitudes of Individuals towards SW disposal

Not changed

Human resources

Inadequate

Research support

Inadequate

Law enforcement

Inadequate

Policy on Solid Waste Management

Lack systematic and comprehensive approach in managing of solid waste

Alternative factors in Goal Achievement

Significance

Changing Compositions of Solid Waste

Increasing plastics making waste management more complex. Contributes a lot in littering and choking of drains and gutters.

Solid Waste generation and Rapid Population growth

Makes solid waste management difficult if not controlled

Waste collection and the uncontrolled

There has been improvement in collection but then the uncontrolled sometimes find their ways into streams, drains and gutter which causes flooding and high cost in clearing of drains and gutters. Also high cost in treating drinking water.

Human Settlement and Road Networks

Mostly unplanned causing difficulty in solid waste collection.

Conclusions

A quick flashback to recapture memories of what the environmental sanitation was a decade ago; it can be said with confidence that the policy has helped a lot to improve the situation to about 30%. There had been great challenges as a municipal like AMA battles with the issue of effective and sustainable waste management. The reality of the problem is in the wake of high rate of population increase and rapid urbanization coupled with the low income levels of citizens.

Interestingly, as the burden of waste grows heavier day by day, the capacity of AMA to effectively manage the situation grew weaker and weaker in the light of increasing cost of waste management against the limited resources being competed for by several other basic needs of the society.

The new private sector partnership arrangement is the best means which has helped in improving the situation. This is because, the private sector (with Zoomlion Ltd as an example), has injected huge sums of capital into the operations and the introduction of several technologies and systems of waste management. This includes tricycle concept, free bin promotion, the sanitation improvement package and best of all the ongoing construction of composite and sorting plant which is 80% near completion. (Zoomlion 2011)

Again, it should be noted here that, littering and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste by individuals is a major concern in the metropolis which needs to be addressed.

Recommendations

Introduction

Solid waste management has a key role to play in the socio-economic development processes while the effectiveness and safety of disposal systems should be taken seriously. Therefore, there the need to see solid waste as a great economic resource to promote reduce of waste, segregation, reuse, recycling, composting and possibly incineration supported by all sections of the society.

Hence, it is useful to have a National Solid Waste Management Policy in place to capture the evolving process with respect to laws, institutions, financial mechanisms, technology and infrastructure and stakeholder participation.

Proposed Action Plan

Policy on Solid Waste Management

AMA should help the government of Ghana to declare a policy which shall be called the National Solid Waste Management Policy (NSWMP) which should be systematic, comprehensive and eco-friendly. This shall ensure the protection of public health and environment through:

Encouraging greater Private Sector Participation in solid waste management

Utilizing environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resources conservation and recovery

Setting of guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composing, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles

Ensuring the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in ecological waste management excluding incineration

Promoting national research and development programs for improved solid waste management and resource conservation techniques, more effective institutional arrangement and indigenous and improved methods of waste reduction, collection, separation and recovery

Retaining primary enforcement and responsibility of solid waste management with local government units while establishing a cooperative effort among the national government, other local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector

Encouraging cooperation and self-regulation among waste generators through the application of market-based instruments

Institutionalizing public participation in the development and implementation of national and local integrated, comprehensive and waste management programs

Strengthen the integration of solid waste management and resource conservation and recovery topics into the academic curricula of formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry [8] 

Institutional mechanism and Community Involvement

National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) should be established to be independent from political interference. The commission should have a board consisting of members from all sections of the society.

Financing Solid Waste Management

A solid waste management fund should be established. Such fund should have its sources from the following

Fines and penalties imposed on polluters

Grants and contributions from domestic companies and foreign partners

Donations from individuals within the country and in the Diaspora

Annual fund raising dinner

Annual football gala between popular teams to raise funds and create public awareness on solid waste management

Contributions from the government

Private Sector Partnership

Aside encouraging greater private sector partnership, there should be incentives and awards for companies in the management of solid waste who use innovative ways to be effective.

Capacity Building

Universities should be encouraged to factor SWM in their curriculum to train enough SW managers. Awards and scholarships could also be given to brilliant but needy students to study SWM. Also sections of the populations without jobs could be trained to serve as a labour force in the management of waste. The Commission to be established should employ experts from within and outside the country.

Information and Research Support

A Solid Waste Management Information System (SWMIS) should be in place to capture all data types. Such a system will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in capturing the data types which would make it accessible to all stakeholders and users. This tool shall help ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of policy on solid waste management.

Again, through the SWM fund, awards could be given to universities and institutions to carry out research into technology thereby eliminate the problem of try and error methods of waste disposal and treatment.

Awareness Creation

The public should be educated on the need to keep their surrounding clean. They should be made not to litter and dump waste in streams, drains and gutters. This can be done through the media (radio, Television, news papers) durbar, campaigns grounds, church activities, schools, etc.

Control on Unban Drift and Human Settlement

Lots of people travel to the urban centres in search for jobs. Therefore to solve the problem of people migrating to one place or the other, the government should create employment at the rural areas. Agriculture technology could be introduced to make it more attractive for the youth.

Waste Treatment and Disposal

Waste should be handled hygienically either treated or disposed. House to house collection should be reaching all the sections of society by encouraging informal collectors as well. These will solve the problem of inaccessibility to those places with or without roads.

Waste generation

The citizen should be encouraged to reduce their waste. A ban on plastics would be ideal as plastics are non-biodegradable and also increases the choking of drains and gutters coursing flooring in cities like Accra. Citizens should be encouraged to use cotton bags for shopping. Drinking water should be sold in bottles whereby the companies producing such products should be made to collect their bottles back for recycling. Also, more tax should be on products which use plastics.

Law enforcement

Solid waste management would be more effective if and only if by-laws are enforced. There should be the political will to prosecute offenders if not funds would be wasted.

Conclusion

These actions are very necessary to effectively manage solid waste. This can be done in the short (1month to 12months), middle (1 to 2years) and long (1-5) terms. Below is the summary of actions to be taken by AMA, the government of Ghana and all stakeholders.

Table Recommendation Action Plan

ACTION

PERIOD(TERM )

ACTOR

Policy on Solid Waste Management

Short

Government

All stakeholders

Institutional mechanism and Community Involvement

Short

Government

Financing Solid Waste Management

Short

NSWC

Private Sector Partnership

Short

NSWC

Capacity Building

Long

NSWC

Information and Research Support

Middle

NSWC

Awareness Creation

Short to long

All stakeholders

Control on Unban Drift and Human Settlement

Long

Government

Waste Treatment and Disposal

Short to Middle

NSWC

Waste generation

Short to long

All stakeholders

Law enforcement

Short to long

Government