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Government Mobilises Resources to Clear Jamestown Waste

The government is mobilising state and private-sector resources to address waste management challenges, with the accumulated refuse at Jamestown in Accra identified as an immediate priority.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, disclosed this on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a media briefing at the Jamestown Waste Transfer Station, as part of his ongoing assessment of the country’s waste management system.

The visit capped a three-day exercise that included inspections of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), Jamestown and Achimota Waste Transfer Stations, and Kpone Landfill on Tuesday, September 1, as well as the Adipa Engineered Landfill at Nsawam in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, September 2.

Hon. Ayariga said Thursday’s exercise was intended to properly assess the scale of accumulated waste at Jamestown and provide the technical information required to guide government’s response.
“We see this from afar. We drive by, we really have no sense of the enormity of the challenge,” he stated.
He disclosed that government would bring together the Ministries of Local Government, Roads and Highways, Defence, Finance and Environment to mobilise the necessary resources for the exercise.

Contractors across the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions would also be engaged to provide trucks, excavators, bulldozers and loaders, particularly equipment that may currently be idle on construction sites.

The Minister noted that the state already has over 100 trucks and several pieces of heavy machinery that could be complemented by private-sector resources. Technical teams from Zoomlion Ghana Limited are also deploying drones to survey the Jamestown site and determine the volume of accumulated waste. The assessment will help establish the number of trucks and trips required, as well as the expected duration of the evacuation exercise.

He stressed that the operation would be guided by technical data, not estimates, enabling contractors to commit to specific evacuation quotas. Beyond construction firms, the government plans to approach mining companies and major industries to contribute through corporate social responsibility programmes, either by deploying their own equipment or hiring contractors to remove agreed waste quantities, rather than making cash donations.

The intervention follows Wednesday’s government announcement that Jamestown’s waste could be transported to the Adipa engineered landfill at Nsawam, which has substantial remaining capacity.

However, Hon. Ayariga emphasised that the response was not merely about removal. There is an urgent need to address the root causes of accumulation, improve community organisation and overhaul waste management systems to prevent recurrence, he reiterated.

He also outlined plans to redevelop the Jamestown area after clearance, without displacing residents, proposing low-cost and high-rise housing alongside roads, sanitation facilities and basic infrastructure, while keeping residents near their livelihoods.

The broader aim, he said, was to prove Ghana can confront longstanding sanitation challenges and tackle their underlying causes. From a public health perspective, clearing the waste would free up resources currently spent on treating sanitation-related illnesses, redirecting them toward prevention.

Hon. Ayariga disclosed that the Defence Ministry has already formed a support team and further decisions will follow President John Dramani Mahama’s return from international engagements.

The push builds on Hon. Ayariga’s earlier call for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s waste management chain, following his September 1 tour where he identified gaps in collection, transport, treatment, recycling, and disposal.

The current assessment, he said, will inform both the immediate evacuation and longer-term sector reforms.
While the operation’s scale and duration depend on ongoing technical evaluations, he affirmed the government’s resolve to marshal national capacity and partner with public and private entities to meet the challenge. He also urged the public and media to support the national sanitation agenda by participating in the first-Saturday cleanup exercise and maintaining cleaner surroundings year-round.

2026-09-03
NewsGhana Added to Global Independent Media Director

NewsGhana has joined the Global Project Oasis media directory, a SembraMedia-led project that profiles independent digital outlets meeting criteria for original, public-interest journalism, according to the organisation’s published listing.

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The directory now covers thousands of outlets across dozens of countries and added Ghana as part of a later phase that also brought in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Morocco. As with other entries, inclusion followed a submission from the outlet itself, after which the profile was built from information the organisation provided, sourced through the digital-rights group Code for Africa.

The profile lists NewsGhana as a digital-only publisher founded in 2015, operating as a for-profit organisationfrom Accra with a team of seven full-time staff, three part-time employees and six freelance contributors.

NewsGhana’s coverage, according to the same profile, spans politics, business, health, education, technology, sports and human rights, produced through breaking news, explanatory reporting, investigative work and opinion pieces. Its listed social reach includes 42,400 followers on X, 6,100 on Facebook and 2,649 on Instagram.

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SembraMedia notes on each profile that it does not independently verify every detail supplied by outlets and recommends readers confirm specifics directly with the organisation. That caveat applies to NewsGhana’sentry as much as any other in the directory.

The addition places NewsGhana among a small but growing number of Ghanaian outlets now mapped by the project, at a point when SembraMedia says its Africa research is still expanding.

2026-09-03
GhanaMedia.net Gains Global Recognition Through Project Oasis Listing

Ghanaian digital news platform GhanaMedia.net has reached another milestone after being featured in the Project Oasis Global Media Directory, bringing the organisation greater visibility within an international network of independent digital media.

The listing highlights GhanaMedia.net‘s identity as an independent digital news organisation producing original content for the public interest, while underscoring the values of independence and transparency associated with its editorial work.

The development comes as digital journalism continues to play an increasingly important role in how audiences access news, analysis and information in Ghana and across Africa.

International Platform for Independent Publishers

Project Oasis maps independent digital media organisations across different countries and provides a directory through which publishers can be discovered and understood within their local media environments. GhanaMedia.net‘s inclusion gives the organisation an opportunity to be seen alongside other independent digital publishers operating in different markets.

The profile is particularly meaningful because it places emphasis on original content, public interest, editorial independence and transparency — principles that are central to responsible digital journalism.

Strengthening GhanaMedia.net‘s Growth

The recognition adds to GhanaMedia.net‘s development as it continues to expand its coverage and digital presence. The platform reports on major national developments while also covering areas such as politics, education, technology, sports, business and the economy.

Greater international visibility can also help Ghanaian stories travel further, giving audiences outside Ghana easier access to reporting produced from a Ghanaian perspective.

Commitment to Credible Journalism

GhanaMedia.net says its continued growth will be anchored in original reporting, public-interest journalism and transparent editorial practices. The Project Oasis listing provides a notable platform for communicating those values to a wider audience.

As the organisation develops, the recognition serves as an encouragement to deepen its journalism, strengthen audience trust and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s evolving digital media ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

The Project Oasis feature is being positioned as a positive step in GhanaMedia.net‘s journey from a growing local digital publisher towards greater international visibility. The organisation intends to build on the milestone by continuing to tell Ghanaian stories with relevance, clarity and impact.

View the official Project Oasis profile: GhanaMedia.net profile in the Project Oasis Global Media Directory

2026-09-03
Bolgatanga : 8PM Events Ban Contradicts Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Vision – Gabriel Agambila

Development advocate Gabriel Agambila has criticised the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly’s decision to restrict certain social events from running beyond 8:00 p.m., arguing that the measure contradicts the broader objectives of the government’s 24-hour economy policy.

Mr Agambila said the restriction, if strictly enforced, could undermine economic activities within the municipality and create public dissatisfaction with the government, particularly at a time when the administration is encouraging businesses and economic activities to operate beyond conventional daytime hours.

His comments follow a decision by the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to impose an 8:00 p.m. deadline on passing-out ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and launching events held within the municipality.

According to the Assembly’s Presiding Member, Lambert Akunzebe, the restriction forms part of revised municipal bylaws aimed at maintaining public order and addressing concerns associated with events that continue late into the night.

The Assembly says organisers and venue owners who breach the regulation could face penalties, while repeat offenders could be prosecuted. The revised bylaws have reportedly been gazetted and are expected to be distributed to institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, the courts, the National Commission for Civic Education and traditional authorities, to facilitate enforcement.

However, Mr Agambila believes the restriction sends the wrong signal at a time when the government is promoting an economy designed to function around the clock.

He argued that events and entertainment-related activities are part of the local economy, providing income for event organisers, musicians, sound engineers, decorators, caterers, security personnel, transport operators, food vendors and other businesses.

He therefore cautioned that restricting such activities to 8:00 p.m. could negatively affect people whose livelihoods depend on evening and night-time economic activities.

“The government is talking about a 24-hour economy, but if people cannot organise legitimate events beyond 8:00 p.m., what message are we sending to the people?” Mr Agambila questioned.

Ghana’s 24-hour economy policy is intended to create an enabling environment for businesses and public institutions to operate around the clock, with the policy framework envisaging three eight-hour shifts. It is aimed at boosting productivity, creating employment and expanding economic opportunities.

The policy has since moved from a campaign proposal to an official government programme. President John Dramani Mahama assented to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill in February 2026, giving legal backing to the implementation of the initiative.

The government has subsequently promoted 24-hour markets and other economic infrastructure as part of efforts to stimulate commercial activity beyond traditional working hours. President Mahama has said the initiative is intended to create jobs, increase productivity and ensure that economic activity continues around the clock.

Mr Agambila said while maintaining public order and protecting residents from excessive noise and other disturbances were legitimate responsibilities of the Municipal Assembly, the solution should not necessarily be a blanket 8:00 p.m. deadline.

He called for dialogue between the Assembly, event organisers, traditional authorities, security agencies, residents and other stakeholders to develop regulations that balance public safety with economic activity.

According to him, mechanisms such as proper event permits, designated venues, noise-control measures, security arrangements and clear closing times could be considered instead of an outright restriction that could affect businesses and employment.

He further warned that the policy could have political consequences for the government if residents perceive local government regulations as being inconsistent with the administration’s flagship economic agenda.

Mr Agambila maintained that the government must ensure that policies implemented at the local level complement, rather than undermine, its national economic objectives.

He urged the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to reconsider the restriction and engage stakeholders to find a more balanced approach that protects public order while allowing legitimate economic and social activities to thrive.

2026-09-03
Otumfuo’s U.S. Visit Erupts Into History With Pride: The First‑Ever Akwasidae on American Soil and a Diplomatic Tour That Shook the Diaspora

Source: Sankofaonline Special News Coverage

His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has departed the United States after a week‑long official visit that will be remembered as one of the most consequential, electrifying, and culturally seismic moments in the history of the Ghanaian diaspora. Seen off by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, HE Victor Smith, the Asantehene’s exit marked the close of a mission that blended diplomacy, cultural power, and global influence in a way America has never witnessed from any African traditional leader.

For seven days, the United States did not merely host a King , it hosted the living embodiment of Asante sovereignty, history, and intellectual force. And at the center of this monumental visit was an achievement that will echo for generations: the first successful celebration of Akwasidae on American soil.

The Akwasidae Kɛse at Bowie State University was not just an event; it was a cultural earthquake.

Thousands of Asantes, Ghanaians, Africans, and curious Americans converged to witness the Golden Stool tradition come alive in a foreign land. Maryland transformed into Kumasi. The drumming shook the walls. The dancing carried centuries of memory. The gold regalia glistened under American skies. And at the heart of it all sat Otumfuo , calm, regal, unshaken , presiding over a sacred rite that has defined Asante identity for centuries.

This was not a mere festival. It was a declaration: Asante culture travels with its people, and wherever Asantes gather, the Kingdom stands.

Beyond the cultural spectacle, Otumfuo’s visit was a diplomatic masterclass. His engagements with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce placed Asanteman squarely in the global investment conversation. American executives, diplomats, and policy strategists sat across from the Asantehene not out of courtesy, but out of recognition , recognition of a leader whose influence extends beyond tradition into development, governance, and international partnership.

The Asantehene’s message was sharp and unmistakable: traditional leadership is not ornamental. It is strategic. It is relevant. And it is ready to shape the future.

At Howard University, Otumfuo delivered a governance‑centered address that challenged the diaspora to rethink its role in Ghana’s development. He spoke with the clarity of a statesman and the authority of a King, reminding listeners that heritage is not a relic , it is a tool for progress.

And then, with the same quiet dignity that defines his reign, Otumfuo departed the United States. Ambassador Victor Smith led the official send‑off, symbolizing Ghana’s acknowledgment of the Asantehene’s unmatched ability to merge tradition with diplomacy, culture with strategy, and heritage with global relevance.

Otumfuo’s visit was not just successful , it was historic. It strengthened Ghana–U.S. investment ties, electrified the diaspora, elevated Asante culture to unprecedented international prominence, and inscribed the first Akwasidae in America into the annals of global African history.

As he returns home, Kumasi prepares to welcome a King who has once again carried Asanteman to the world stage with unmatched grace, authority, and cultural firepower.

2026-09-03