KEY POINTS
- Ayariga says the IRECOP cleanup shows Ghana can manage any waste challenge.
- The exercise is on track to meet its 90-day target, he said.
- The government plans an industrial park on the cleared land.
Mahama Ayariga, Ghana’s minister for local government, chieftaincy and religious affairs, has praised progress on the IRECOP cleanup in Accra, saying it shows what the country can achieve through collective effort and proper mobilization of resources, Citi Newsroom reported.
Ayariga spoke during a visit to assess the clearing of massive waste heaps at the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant site. He said the transformation was clearly visible, even though the exercise’s initial 90-day window had not yet run out.
IRECOP cleanup on track for 90-day goal
The progress shows Ghana can tackle major sanitation problems when resources and commitment come together, he said. “I don’t think there’s any waste in this country that cannot be cleared,” Ayariga added.
He also expressed confidence that the team would meet the 90-day target.
Industrial park planned for cleared land
Meanwhile, Ayariga called for measures to protect the cleared land from encroachment, since the government plans to develop an industrial park on the site.
Until that project begins, the government intends to cover parts of the cleared area and add facilities, including walkways, for residents of nearby communities.
After Accra, the DRIP team will move to other regions, he said. It will deploy its equipment to support strategic projects, including dams, agricultural development, water storage and sanitation. So the machinery must remain available to tackle similar problems across Ghana, he stressed.
