TEMA, Ghana, 2nd July: The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has questioned why Ghana has not yet embraced technology to process its growing volumes of waste, despite advances in science and innovation around the world.
According to him, it is surprising that the country has failed to develop modern waste-processing systems capable of converting refuse into valuable products such as fertiliser, while also separating recyclable materials like plastics.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Thursday Class programme on Thursday, July 2, Abraham Koomson said Ghana should invest in technology that can efficiently sort waste, separate plastics for recycling, and convert organic waste into fertiliser.
He argued that the country’s current “collect and dump” waste management approach overlooks the enormous economic potential embedded in waste, denying Ghana opportunities to create jobs, generate energy, and increase revenue.
His comments follow the devastating floods caused by last Monday’s heavy rainfall, which have claimed at least 12 lives and displaced 38,802 people from 7,761 households.
Reacting to the disaster, Mr. Koomson described the flooding as a natural disaster and urged Ghanaians not to unfairly blame President John Dramani Mahama.
He noted that several countries, including Ivory Coast and Nigeria, have recently experienced severe flooding, while Venezuela has been struck by an earthquake, yet their leaders are not solely blamed for such natural occurrences.
However, he stressed that human activities continue to worsen the flood situation in Ghana, particularly in Accra.
According to him, widespread indiscipline in waste disposal, with many people dumping refuse indiscriminately and into drains, has significantly contributed to clogged drainage systems and recurring floods.
Abraham Koomson observed that Ghana generates about 12,710 tonnes of solid waste every day, yet most of it is still disposed of using outdated methods instead of being processed into useful products.
He maintained that the country should, by now, have adopted technologies capable of transforming waste into economic resources while reducing environmental hazards.
To minimise flooding, he called on authorities and citizens to work together by ending the practice of dumping refuse into drains and intensifying the demolition of structures built on waterways.
He said combining responsible sanitation practices with modern waste-processing technology would not only help reduce flooding but also create a cleaner environment, generate employment, and unlock new economic opportunities for the country.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭