The Head of Waste Management at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Prosper Kotoka, has revealed that the city manages approximately 2,000 tonnes of refuse daily at GHS 300,000 to GHS 320,000.

He says the high cost of running the landfill site does not match the revenue collected from waste management.

Speaking on Luv FM, Mr Kotoka clarified recent comments by the Kumasi Mayor that an amount of GHS 83 is required daily for waste management in the city. 

“The GHS 83 per tonne is not the total cost of managing the waste. After collecting and transporting the waste to the landfill, that is the landfill cost alone,” Mr Kotoka explained.

He said the intensive operations involved at the landfill site, including the deployment of two bulldozers, an excavator, a payloader, and a shift push constructor, all of which are fueled daily. These machines are responsible for compacting waste, transporting laterite to cover compacted refuse, and creating access roads for subsequent operations. 

Additionally, the KMA undertakes measures to control odour, flies, and rodents at the site. He emphasised that all these operations cost about GHS 150 to 160, amounting to GHS 300,000 to GHS 320,000 for the 2,000 tonnes managed each day. 

“On average, KMA spends GHS 150 to GHS 160 per tonne per day just on operations and maintenance, excluding capital costs such as cell construction,” he stated.

Regarding funding, Mr Kotoka said that the KMA finances waste management through cthe ollection of fees, property rates, and licenses. He added that KMA is responsible for 50% of the waste delivered to the site, while the remaining 50% falls under the jurisdiction of another assembly.

Mr Kotoka further emphasised that the most significant obstacle to effective sanitation in Kumasi is public attitude. “I would attribute it to attitudinal problems. We have done a lot of education and sensitisation,” he noted.

To address this, he announced the planned deployment of a dedicated task force, accompanied by military personnel, to enforce proper waste disposal and curb indiscriminate dumping. 

“The Mayor’s plan is to put a taskforce and a military accompanying the task force. They will be ensuring that the right things are done,” Mr. Kotoka stated.

He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the outcome. “It’s not going to be very easy or quick, but we believe we will get there,” he assured.