The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has promised capital residents that it will ensure consistent waste collection throughout its jurisdiction. In a January 29 interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, AMA’s Public Relations Officer, Gilbert Ankrah, responded to concerns regarding waste management and homelessness in the city, offering insights into the assembly’s initiatives to address these challenges, despite ongoing difficulties.
Mr. Ankrah emphasized that waste collection is a top priority for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). He noted that refuse in areas such as Circle, which fall under the assembly’s jurisdiction, is cleared daily. He explained that operations have continued smoothly and without disruption, even in the absence of a fully appointed mayor. “If you come to Circle, waste is being cleared in areas that fall under the AMA on a daily basis,” the Public Relations Officer told Bernard Avle during the interview.
He added that “Beginning this year, we have put measures in place to ensure that the refuse of Accra are collected every day.” This assurance comes at a time when Accra continues to face growing urbanisation challenges, including a rise in waste accumulation in several parts of the city. The AMA made it clear that it will not allow these challenges to affect the efficiency of its waste management services, which have been expanded to cover more areas and operate at greater frequencies.
However, the issue of homelessness, another pressing concern facing Accra, is more complex, according to Ankrah. He stressed that addressing homelessness in the city is not solely the responsibility of the AMA but requires collaborative efforts with other institutions, such as Social Welfare and other social service agencies. While the AMA has worked closely with these organisations in the past to find solutions, Ankrah admitted that there is currently a lack of formal shelters available for the homeless.
“The issue of homelessness requires some forms of collaboration with other institutions to deal with it and we have been doing this. “We have collaborated with Social Welfare in the past to deal with homelessness. In the past, there used to be shelter but as of now, there is no place that I am aware of.”
By: Kabah Atawoge
