President John Dramani Mahama has announced major reforms to the country’s sanitation and waste management structure, describing the current system as overly centralised and inefficient.

Speaking at an orientation session for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Accra, the president said new guidelines would soon be introduced to allow local assemblies to transparently select their sanitation service providers through a competitive procurement process.

The President’s announcement follows recent public discourse around sanitation sector contracts.

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni recently commended President Mahama for terminating the long-standing sanitation agreement between Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

In a formal petition to the presidency, Awuni criticised the deal for fostering inefficiencies and exploiting sanitation workers, particularly street sweepers, while diverting substantial public funds to private interests.

President Mahama’s remarks signal a shift towards greater decentralisation and accountability in the management of public resources, particularly in sectors that directly affect health and the environment.

The forthcoming guidelines, he noted, would be designed to ensure that service delivery is efficient, equitable, and responsive to the needs of local communities.