The Coalition of NGOs on Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) are demanding the immediate payment of landfill operators in the country.

In a joint statement read by Vice Chairman of the Coalition, Atta Arhin, government is said to owe operators about ¢42 million in unpaid cash.

This, according to the organisation makes it difficult for waste managers to fulfill their mandates as many are either having to halt operations or work under unfavorably conditions.

“We urgently call on the government to as a matter of urgency pay all outstanding debts. Attention also needs to be paid to the expansion of infrastructure. The current infrastructure capacity is fast being exhausted if not already exhausted,” Mr Arhin said.

Speaking at the first of a monthly Environmental Dialogue series in Accra Tuesday, the Coalition described the situation as a threat to sanitation and development in the country.

“Our visit to the Kpone landfill yesterday shows a facility that is being used beyond its installed capacity.

“The risk of going beyond 20meters in height is the possibility of a slide due to the unstable slopes. In the wake of the impending rainfall season and given the current state of landfill sites, waste service providers are in great fear of the potential danger of the lack of suitable sites for dumping."