Mahama orders immediate waste transfer station operations
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate activation of all waste transfer stations operated by Zoomlion Ghana Limited to improve refuse evacuation and strengthen waste management across the Greater Accra Region in the aftermath of the recent floods.
Speaking to residents on the second and final day of the National General Clean-up Exercise at Alajo in Accra on Saturday, July 11, 2026, the President said the transfer stations, which were completed more than nine years ago, had remained unused, resulting in waste collectors travelling long distances to dispose of refuse.
“Unfortunately, they were not put into operation. So, we have asked the contractor, Zoomlion, to open the transfer stations so that the Aboboyas and others can take the garbage to the Transfer Stations,” Mahama said.
“They don’t need to go all the way to Amasaman to the IRECOPs,” he noted.
According to the President, activating the facilities will significantly improve the efficiency of waste collection while reducing transportation costs and turnaround time for waste operators. He stressed that a cleaner and healthier Accra requires not only adequate infrastructure but also responsible sanitation practices by residents.
Under the new arrangement, waste collected from communities will first be deposited at designated transfer stations, where it will be compacted before being transported by heavy-duty trucks to approved treatment and final disposal facilities, including the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) and the Accra Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP).
The six transfer stations located at Achimota, Teshie, Kpone, Ashaiman, Pantang and Adipa have now been opened for operations, with Zoomlion confirming that they are already receiving waste generated during the nationwide clean-up exercise.
“We will bounce back better”
President Mahama commended residents for the impressive participation recorded during the two-day exercise and appealed to those who had not yet joined the campaign to support efforts to restore the city after the floods.
“Today the turnout is very good but I am calling on those still in their houses to come out and come and join us so we clean the city after the flood,” he pleaded.
The President noted that previous clean-up exercises often failed to achieve lasting results because waste removed from drains was left by roadsides, where it was eventually washed back into gutters during subsequent rains.
“Today we are going to concentrate on scooping all the garbage we took out of the gutters into these big trucks so that they take them to the dumpsite,” he said.
He acknowledged that two days would not be sufficient to complete the task and announced that the Ghana Armed Forces and other state agencies would continue the operation until all waste removed from drains had been cleared.
“Ghana is a resilient country, Accra is a resilient city and we will bounce back better than before,” he said.
Zoomlion scales up logistics
Responding to the President’s directive, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, welcomed the decision and reaffirmed Zoomlion’s commitment to supporting government’s post-flood sanitation efforts.
He explained that the second day of the clean-up had evolved into a large-scale waste evacuation exercise, requiring extensive logistics to remove refuse from homes, drains and public spaces affected by the flooding.
According to him, Zoomlion, working together with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and other partners, expanded operations throughout the Greater Accra Region to ensure timely waste removal.
Dr. Siaw Agyepong disclosed that approximately 150 haulage trucks, 30 compactors, road sweepers, more than 2,000 tricycle waste operators and over 1,000 Zoomlion personnel were deployed for the exercise. An additional 60 long-haul trailers were introduced on the second day to further strengthen waste evacuation.
He said operations were simultaneously taking place across all 29 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region, with waste being channelled through the newly activated transfer stations before final transportation to treatment and disposal facilities.
The Zoomlion Executive Chairman also urged residents to adopt responsible waste disposal habits, noting that much of the refuse removed during the exercise had accumulated over several years.
Minister inspects facilities
Following the President’s directive, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, toured selected transfer stations and the Accra Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) to assess their readiness and operational capacity.
He thanked President Mahama for authorising the immediate use of the facilities, describing the decision as a major boost to waste collection and transportation in the Greater Accra Region.
The Minister also praised Dr. Siaw Agyepong for providing the infrastructure required to support government’s sanitation agenda, noting that collaboration between the public and private sectors remains essential in addressing the country’s waste management challenges.
According to him, the transfer stations are capable of operating continuously, including on a 24-hour basis, whenever required to support waste evacuation efforts.
He further emphasised that investing in preventive sanitation measures is more cost-effective than dealing with the health consequences associated with poor environmental conditions.
Waste transformed into valuable resources
At the IRECOP facility, officials were taken through the waste processing system, where refuse is sorted, recycled and converted into useful products instead of being sent directly to landfill sites.
Technical Manager of IRECOP, Ing. Joseph Owusu Sarkodie, explained that the facility treats waste as a valuable resource by separating plastics, metals, paper and organic materials through mechanical and manual processes.
He said recovered plastics are processed into raw materials for plastic manufacturers, metals are supplied to steel companies, while organic waste is composted into products suitable for agriculture, landscaping and other purposes.
The visit underscored the government’s renewed commitment to promoting a circular waste management system that prioritises recycling, recovery and composting over traditional disposal methods.
The National General Clean-up Exercise brought together the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, the Mayor of Accra, personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, as well as thousands of residents and volunteers.
Stakeholders expressed confidence that the activation of the transfer stations, combined with expanded logistics and stronger collaboration between government and private sector partners, would significantly improve waste management and help build a cleaner, healthier and more resilient Accra.
