Gov’t Owes Waste Management Firms GHC4 Billion – ESPA

The Ashanti Regional President of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Ing. Eugene Amo-Asamoah, has revealed that the Government of Ghana owes waste management companies an estimated GHC4 billion for services rendered since 2022. Speaking on the Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9 FM in Kumasi on Friday, April 17, 2026, he explained that the debt has accumulated over time from services provided to government agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and other public institutions. According to him, the unpaid funds cover critical services such as landfill management, refuse evacuation, and other sanitation-related operations across the country. Ing. Amo-Asamoah stressed that the situation is putting significant strain on waste management companies, many of which have not received payments for two to three years. He warned that the continued delay in settling these debts is crippling the operations of service providers. He explained that several companies have had to rely on loans from banks, suppliers, and other partners to sustain their activities. However, these financial lifelines are drying up, with some companies now facing threats of legal action from creditors. The ESPA regional president cautioned that failure by government to urgently address the situation could lead to the shutdown of landfill sites and treatment facilities nationwide. He noted that such a development would severely disrupt waste collection services and could trigger a public health crisis. “Ghana’s waste management sector is faced with an alarming state of operational and financial distress,” he stated, adding that deteriorating infrastructure and poorly maintained disposal sites are worsening the situation. Beyond the debt, Ing. Amo-Asamoah also called for a review of the National Sanitation and Pollution Levy. He pointed out that the absence of a dedicated budgetary allocation for waste management has contributed to the challenges facing the sector. He urged government to prioritise funding for sanitation and ensure that resources are allocated to maintain and improve existing infrastructure. ESPA, a coalition of private waste management companies, plays a key role in supporting Ghana’s sanitation efforts in partnership with government and local authorities. The association maintains that without immediate intervention, the country risks setbacks in environmental management, job losses, and increased health hazards for citizens.