The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is seeking €54 million in funding to address critical challenges at the Sofokrom landfill site — the only official waste disposal facility serving Ghana's Western Region.
Spanning 68 acres, the Sofokrom landfill receives waste from multiple districts, including Shama and Ahanta West. However, its current state has become unsustainable. STMA officials report that the site is not only costly to operate — with monthly expenses nearing GHC900,000 — but also increasingly difficult to manage due to equipment failures and poor infrastructure.
A recent breakdown of the Assembly’s only waste truck has worsened the situation. During the rainy season, deteriorating access roads further hinder effective waste collection, leading to an increase in illegal dumping throughout the city.
In response, STMA has submitted a funding proposal to the C40 Cities Finance Facility. The proposal outlines plans to construct a biodigester and recycling plant aimed at modernising waste management, reducing environmental damage, and improving public health.
Mayor Fredrick Faidoo emphasized that the current landfill lacks a gas collection system, allowing harmful greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide to escape into the atmosphere.
“The proposed facility will offer a comprehensive solution,” he explained. “By converting organic waste into biogas and recycling plastics and metals, we can significantly cut emissions, reduce reliance on landfills, and extract economic value from waste.”
Officials from C40 Cities, who recently toured the site, expressed support for the initiative. National Coordinator Abraham Afful described the project as "visionary" and underscored the importance of improved hygiene and waste separation practices across the municipality.
If approved, the €54 million investment could transform Sofokrom into a model of sustainable urban waste management and significantly enhance living conditions in the region.
Source: The Ghana Report.
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