Kumasi is facing a potential waste management crisis that could leave the city struggling to handle its trash. Mayor Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi has warned that the Oti Landfill Site may be forced to shut down within three months if urgent funding isn’t secured. This looming closure threatens the sanitation of the entire Greater Kumasi enclave.
The problem stems from a mismatch between the facility’s capacity and the actual volume of waste it handles. While managed by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), the site serves as a critical hub for several neighboring jurisdictions. Areas like Atwima Nwabiagya, Ejisu, and Kwabre East all rely on the facility, which places an immense strain on KMA’s limited resources.
The numbers paint a stark picture, with the site now receiving over 2,000 tonnes of waste every single day. Mayor Boadi noted that financial support from the District Assemblies Common Fund is simply too low for the scale of the task, stating, “We get minimal resources compared to about 13 assemblies, yet with that same allocation, we are managing waste from all these areas.” To keep the site viable, the assembly needs about six million euros to build additional landfill cells.
A shutdown would be catastrophic for urban hygiene, but the path to a solution is blocked by long-standing debts. The Mayor revealed that the government has owed funds for four years, leaving the facility without the money needed for essential operations. Without a sudden influx of cash and infrastructure expansion, the site’s lifespan is rapidly shrinking.
There is still a glimmer of hope as the city leadership pushes for a high-level resolution. Mayor Boadi has committed to fighting for the facility’s survival by lobbying the government for immediate financial intervention. “I have taken up the responsibility to engage on their behalf at the highest level to ensure that something is released to them,” he stated.
