Accra Mayor pledges AMA support for community-led waste management at Agbogbloshie

Story by: Regina Bless

The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has pledged the support of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for ongoing community-led waste management and environmental restoration efforts around the June 4th Market area at Agbogbloshie.

The Mayor made the commitment on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during a visit to the area, where he inspected environmental restoration work being undertaken by The Or Foundation together with community volunteers.

The initiative focuses on clearing waste from a canal that feeds into the Korle Lagoon, while developing longer-term approaches to waste management and environmental protection in the surrounding community.

AMA to support sustained waste management

During the visit, Mayor Allotey said the AMA was interested in establishing a regular waste management arrangement around the intervention and working with The Or Foundation to sustain the progress already achieved.

He described the project as a practical example of what can be achieved when local authorities, civil society organisations and communities work together to address environmental challenges.

According to the Mayor, the approach could be replicated in other parts of Accra where communities face persistent sanitation and waste management challenges.

He commended The Or Foundation for taking on what he described as a difficult but important responsibility, noting that the impact of the intervention extends beyond individual beneficiaries to improving environmental conditions for the wider community.

The Mayor assured the team that the AMA was prepared to provide the necessary institutional support, despite the Assembly’s financial constraints and competing demands.

He added that both the Assembly and the Foundation could learn from each other as the partnership develops, stressing that sustained collaboration would be critical to achieving lasting improvements in sanitation and environmental management across Accra.

More than 300 metres of canal cleared

The Head of Environmental Justice at The Or Foundation, Katia Osei, explained that the intervention followed an assessment of the canal system, community conditions, aerial images and historical patterns around the June 4th Market and the Korle Lagoon.

She disclosed that approximately 300 metres of the canal had been cleared so far.

The project has also introduced erosion barriers and movable plastic barriers to help control the movement of waste and protect the canal during periods of heavy rainfall.

The measures are intended to address not only the waste already accumulated in the canal but also some of the factors contributing to the continued movement of waste into the waterway.

Community participation growing

The Environmental Field Operations Lead, Mr. David Kwabena Akpablie, said participation in the clean-up activities has continued to grow.

He explained that what began with a small core team has expanded to more than 60 community volunteers who are now supporting the intervention.

According to him, the initiative is being implemented as a broader waste management system rather than as a one-time clean-up exercise.

Waste recovered from the canal is being sorted, with textiles, plastics and other materials separated as part of efforts to promote more responsible waste management and recovery.

Towards a greener Agbogbloshie

The Or Foundation said its long-term objective extends beyond keeping the canal free from waste.

The organisation wants to reclaim and green sections of the surrounding land while developing systems that can support recycling and contribute to a more circular economy.

The partnership between the AMA, The Or Foundation and community volunteers therefore represents an effort to combine environmental restoration with community participation and more sustainable waste management practices.

For Accra, the initiative highlights the importance of moving from periodic clean-up exercises toward systems that prevent waste from entering waterways in the first place.

If sustained, the approach could provide lessons for other communities facing similar challenges, particularly in areas where poor waste disposal, flooding and environmental degradation are closely connected.