Roads Turn Incinerators: Waste Crisis Grips Asankrangwa

 

Asankrangwa, a town which is the municipal capital in the Amenfi West Municipality in Ghana’s Western Region, is grappling with a severe sanitation crisis, posing significant health risks to residents and the environment.

On May 11th, 2025, Pazion Media conducted an investigation into the sanitation challenges plaguing Asankrangwa, focusing on key dumping sites throughout the town. The findings revealed a deeply concerning state of affairs.

In New Town, a major suburb, Madam Mavis, a local health practitioner, attributed the issue partly to residents’ irresponsible waste disposal habits. She noted that even when community waste containers are full, some residents continue to pile rubbish on top, exacerbating the problem. However, she also called upon the area’s assembly members to be more proactive in monitoring the situation and ensuring timely removal of full containers, warning that unattended waste left for weeks poses a health threat, particularly to schoolchildren and individuals accessing healthcare at the local clinic.

Mr. Agyaaku, a resident living across from the community waste container in New Town, revealed that residents had previously suggested the assembly assign a dedicated individual to manage the site, but this recommendation was not implemented. He expressed a preference for the removal of the community containers entirely, advocating for a system where individual households are responsible for their own waste disposal using personal bins. Mr. Agyaaku also noted frequent complaints from waste management officers regarding vehicle malfunctions or fuel shortages, hindering their ability to perform their duties effectively.

In the Blockoso area, both improper waste disposal and open defecation are prevalent, contributing to unsanitary conditions and public health risks.

The situation in Awaase, along the Asankrangwa Senior High School road, was described as particularly dire. Heaps of refuse had spilled onto the asphalted road and were being set ablaze, creating a hazardous and unsanitary environment. Mr. JK Lamptey, who operates a food mill and vegetable grinding business near the refuse dump, stated that he and others had proposed renting out the area closest to the road for temporary stores, with the store owners being responsible for maintaining cleanliness in front of their establishments, but their proposal was ignored.

The refuse dump is located in close proximity to the River Kwama. Consequently, some residents deliberately dump their waste into the river when the designated refuse site is overflowing, contributing to flooding during the rainy season. Mr. Lamptey described the pungent smell emanating from the refuse dump, especially at night, as unbearable. He fears this has led to instances of typhoid in the area.

Mr. Ackaa, representing the Amenfi West Citizens Network, stated that they had developed comprehensive sanitation plans, similar to the “Buz Stop Boys” initiative, but faced significant obstacles and lack of support from both the church and the local assembly.

The unsanitary conditions in Asankrangwa are clearly severe. The CEO of Rosal Innovations, a local waste management company, reported that he had previously proposed taking over waste management responsibilities, including collection and disposal, but his proposal was rejected by the assembly. He believes the assembly must do better to combat the garbage issues.