The Alternative Force for Action (AFA) led by independent presidential aspirant, Dr Sam Ankrah, has pledged to implement a thorough plan to address the country’s waste management crisis should he be voted into office in the upcoming general elections.

In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse' with Samuel Kojo Brace on Thursday, Dr Ankrah noted that the first thing he will do when inaugurated into office is to implement a compulsory recycling policy to transform waste into valuable resources.

He stressed that robust systems and structures would manage waste effectively,

“We have a special programme as to how we would address waste, the Alternative Force for Action (AFA Group) promises Ghanaians that there is going to be compulsory recycling of waste from day one that we are elected into office.

“Systems and structures will be put in place to tackle this because waste is money, and we need to harness it,” he stated.

Highlighting the potential economic benefits of proper waste management, Dr Ankrah detailed the multifaceted uses of recycled waste.

“We will get clean water out of waste, we will generate power out of it and we can even produce building materials from it. So there is a whole lot of use from this waste that we have left to engulf us and cause all sorts of outbreaks in our cities and towns.”

He further bemoaned the dire state of waste management in Ghana, pointing out that the country's cities and towns are overwhelmed with waste due to the lack of a serious waste processing or disposal structure.

“Our country is engulfed to the brim with dirt, rubbish, and waste everywhere. There is no serious waste processing structure or disposal structure, and it is serious," he remarked.

Dr Ankrah expressed concern over the open gutter system, especially during the rainy season, warning that it could lead to a public health crisis.

He called for a greater correlation between health and the environment, noting that the unsanitary conditions in Ghana could precipitate severe outbreaks of diseases.

“There has to be a correlation between health and the environment, and I don’t think we have gotten it. At the national level, these are critical things that we have to look at.”