The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga (MP), has expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in the evacuation of accumulated waste at the IRECOP national emergency waste evacuation site, describing the transformation as evidence of what Ghana can achieve through coordinated efforts and sustained commitment.
The minister made the remarks during a working visit to the site to inspect ongoing operations being undertaken by the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) team, with operational support from the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, DRIP truck operators and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Accompanied by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Minister observed the progress made since the commencement of the exercise and the subsequent commissioning of the evacuation works by President John Dramani Mahama.
He said the transformation of the site, which previously presented a major environmental and sanitation challenge, demonstrated the capacity of Ghanaian institutions to address longstanding problems when resources, personnel and equipment were effectively mobilised.
“When we started, you needed to imagine what you saw. Today, you can see the acceleration on the ground. And if we have been able to clear this heap, I don't think there is any waste in this country that cannot be cleared or managed,” he said.
Ayariga commended the DRIP team, the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and the truck operators for their commitment and hard work. He also acknowledged the support of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ministry of Finance, particularly in providing resources for fuel and operational allowances.
Government eyes productive redevelopment of cleared site
Beyond the immediate objective of evacuating the accumulated waste, the Minister said government was focused on securing the entire area and preparing it for productive economic and social use.
He disclosed that the Minister for Finance had expressed a vision of developing an industrial park at the site, making it necessary to protect the cleared area and prevent the re-emergence of the environmental challenges that had characterised it.
As an interim measure, Ayariga said government would work with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to improve the cleared portions of the site by covering them with green grass, developing walkways and providing benches to create a recreational space for residents in the surrounding communities.
He explained that this would allow residents to enjoy a clean and green environment for walking and relaxation while the government worked towards the proposed industrial development.
The minister stressed that the objective was to ensure that the land did not remain idle but was gradually transformed into a productive and environmentally friendly space.
Ayariga expressed confidence that the DRIP team would complete the assignment within the initial 90-day target set for the exercise.
He said the progress achieved so far was encouraging and urged the team to maintain the pace of work to ensure that the remaining waste was evacuated within the agreed timeframe.
He explained that the equipment deployed to IRECOP was required in other regions to address pressing infrastructure and sanitation challenges and, therefore, could not remain at the site indefinitely.
The minister indicated that upon completion of the exercise, the DRIP team would be deployed across the regions to undertake strategic infrastructure development.
The minister used the inspection to explain government's broader approach to maximising the utilisation of DRIP equipment through coordinated regional and inter-regional deployment.
He observed that distributing equipment among individual assemblies sometimes limited its effectiveness, particularly when major infrastructure challenges required more machinery and resources than a single assembly could provide.
He said government intended to mobilise the equipment collectively to undertake major projects, including dam construction, land development for commercial agriculture, water storage infrastructure, sanitation management and landfill improvement.
According to him, this approach would enable assemblies and regions to pool resources and address large-scale development challenges more efficiently.
He cited the potential of deploying DRIP equipment to develop dams in the Savannah Region or prepare large tracts of land for commercial agriculture as examples of the opportunities presented by the coordinated approach.
The Minister said the ultimate objective was to build a national infrastructure capacity that could be deployed strategically to support agriculture, environmental management and other development priorities.
Ayariga expressed appreciation to the Minister for Finance for providing the financial support required to sustain the evacuation exercise.
He noted that the provision of funds for diesel, drivers' allowances and equipment operators had been critical to keeping the machinery operational and maintaining the pace of work.
He also thanked the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, for the support provided by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, as well as the DRIP Coordinator, the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and all truck operators involved in the exercise.
The minister assured the team that government would continue to monitor the project and provide the necessary support to ensure its timely completion.
He said the transformation at IRECOP should serve as an example of how coordinated national action, proper resource mobilisation and sustained commitment could address longstanding environmental challenges while creating opportunities for economic development and improved community wellbeing.
