Story By:- Prince Nornorme.
Workers at the Kpone Katamanso Landfill in the Greater Accra Region are appealing passionately to the government following reports of a possible 30-day closure of the site.
In an interview, a woman who identified herself as Comfort (not her real name), aged 50, said the proposed closure would severely affect her livelihood. According to her, many families depend solely on daily earnings from the landfill site.
“We beg the Minister and the government to reconsider the decision. This is where we get our daily bread. Unemployment in the country is already high, and closing the site will worsen our situation,” she lamented.
Another worker stressed that waste pickers play a critical role in environmental sanitation and the recycling value chain. He explained that materials recovered from the landfill serve as raw materials for several manufacturing companies across the country.
“We help keep the environment clean and supply raw materials to industries. If the site is closed without any alternative, what do they expect us to do? Do they want us to turn into thieves?” he questioned. The workers are also calling on the International Alliance of Waste Pickers to come to their aid.
Their concerns follow a visit to the site by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, on Monday, 23rd February 2026, where he assessed operations and ongoing waste management activities.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Waste Pickers Association, Mr. Divine Dorkenu, has urged members to remain calm as leadership engages authorities to find a lasting solution. He assured them that necessary arrangements are being considered and appealed to the Minister and government to support the workers during this period.
Mr Ernest, the government representative at the site, also advised members to observe safety precautions strictly. He cautioned against eating at the top of the landfill, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.
The situation continues to draw attention as hundreds of workers await a clear directive on the future of the landfill site.
