Minister asks for Review of AMA - CCWL agreement

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Ibrahim C. Quaye, on Wednesday called for a review of the contract between the AMA and City and Country Waste Limited (CCWL) because of its defects in favour of the company.

The Regional Minister said he would refer the contract to the Minister of Local Government and the Attorney General for a review and necessary action. Briefing newsmen in Accra after visiting the Kaneshie Market Complex, the Mallam Landfill and the Waste Management Department at Awudome, he said in spite of the fact that 11 million dollars was spent last year, sanitation management in the capital has not improved.

He said CCWL charges are also too high and in conflict with the National Environmental and Sanitation Programme. The Regional Minister said while CCWL charges AMA 30 dollars per tonne of refuse collected it pays its sub-contractors five dollars per tonne.

He stressed the need for a free-hand and more resources to enable the Waste Management Department of the AMA to do its work, adding that a three-day crash programme ending on Saturday would be launched to clear the mounting heaps of refuse in the city.

The Regional Minister said an educational programme to encourage traders, market women and other operators in the city to, at least sweep their areas of operation everyday after work for the Waste Management Department to collect, would also be launched soon.

It was announced that the Mallam Landfill would cease operation within two to three months for a new one at Oblogo.