The Ejisu Municipality in the Ashanti Region is grappling with an escalating sanitation crisis following the absence of a designated landfill site, a challenge that local authorities say is severely hampering waste management efforts and threatening public health.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejisu, Hon. Jerryne Asante, has disclosed that the situation stems from administrative changes after the division of the former Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.
According to her, the previous dumping site now falls under the jurisdiction of the Juaben Municipal Assembly, leaving Ejisu without a permanent waste disposal facility.
Hon. Asante explained that attempts by the Ejisu Municipal Assembly to continue using the Juaben dumping site have been unsuccessful.
She revealed that the Juaben traditional authority, led by the Juabenhene, has barred Ejisu from accessing the facility following the 2024 general elections, thereby compounding the sanitation difficulties in the municipality.
“This has created a major gap in our sanitation management system,” she noted. “Currently, we are compelled to transport waste over long distances to the Oti dumping site, which is not only costly but highly inefficient.”
She further highlighted that waste containers from Ejisu are often delayed for days at the Oti disposal site due to heavy congestion and traffic challenges. In some cases, trucks reportedly remain in queues for up to a week before offloading, leading to a backlog of uncollected waste across the municipality.
The situation has contributed to indiscriminate dumping, particularly within the Ejisu market and surrounding communities. Market women and residents, facing limited disposal options, have resorted to depositing waste along roadsides, creating unsightly and potentially hazardous conditions.
Hon. Asante expressed concern over the growing trend, noting that although the Assembly makes efforts to clear refuse from the streets, the absence of available containers often results in recurring waste accumulation. She also lamented what she described as negative media portrayals that fail to capture the underlying logistical constraints.
“When we clear the roads and are waiting for containers to return, waste begins to pile up again. Unfortunately, this is what is often captured and circulated on social media without context,” she said.
In response to the crisis, the Ejisu Municipal Assembly is appealing to traditional authorities within the area to release land for the establishment of a new landfill site. Hon. Asante emphasized that the Assembly is willing to comply with any conditions set by the chiefs to secure a permanent solution.
“We are humbly pleading with our chiefs to support us with land for a landfill. Ejisu is a busy municipality with market activities taking place daily, and we urgently need a sustainable waste disposal system,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, a joint directive issued by the Ejisumanhene, Nana Afrane Okese II, and the Ejisumanhemaa, Nana Yaa Asantewaa, in collaboration with the Municipal Assembly, has introduced strict sanctions to curb indiscriminate dumping.
Under the new measures, individuals caught disposing of waste illegally will face an on-the-spot fine of GH¢3,000 or a custodial sentence of up to three months.
Traders who violate the directive risk suspension from market activities.
Authorities are also urging market women and residents living near commercial areas to desist from bringing household waste to public spaces, particularly roadsides, warning that such practices worsen the sanitation burden and undermine ongoing efforts to maintain cleanliness.
The Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to improving sanitation in Ejisu but stressed that achieving lasting results will require collective responsibility, cooperation from residents, and urgent support from traditional leaders in securing a dedicated landfill site.
As the municipality continues to navigate these challenges, stakeholders say swift intervention is critical to prevent a full-blown environmental and public health crisis.
