Former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has blamed worsening flooding in parts of Accra on poor sanitation management and the cancellation of the sanitation contract involving Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Mr Glover said the recent floods that hit parts of the capital after hours of heavy rainfall showed that the country’s waste-management system had weakened. He argued that the disruption of routine street sweeping and refuse collection had contributed to the accumulation of waste in drains and waterways.
According to him, the decision to cancel the Youth Employment Agency sanitation arrangement with Zoomlion has created a major gap in urban sanitation services.
“You’ve Asked Him to Stop the Work”
Mr Glover said Zoomlion had the capacity, experience and logistical strength to carry out large-scale waste collection and sanitation services, but had been asked to stop.
“The person who has the capacity to do this, you’ve asked him to stop the work. He is doing it in 29 African countries. Lagos alone, he has 25 years contract, and he’s working to collect this refuse,” he said.
He maintained that the cancellation had affected regular cleaning in the metropolis, towns and other public spaces.
“Another problem that I have identified is our inability to continue the sweeping in the metropolis, in the towns; the cancellation of the Zoomlion contract, from last year, for almost a year now, look at the number of refuse that are in the water and end up in the ocean,” he stated.
Accumulated Waste Blocking Drains
The former minister argued that when refuse is not collected regularly, it ends up in gutters, drains, lagoons and the sea, worsening the impact of heavy rainfall.
He said blocked drains prevent the free flow of water during downpours, causing communities, roads, businesses and homes to flood.
Mr Glover’s comments come after recent floods submerged parts of the capital, disrupted transport and business activities, and renewed debate over Ghana’s long-standing urban drainage and sanitation problems.
He insisted that poor waste disposal habits among citizens must also be addressed, but said government must ensure that proper systems exist to manage sanitation effectively.
Assemblies Lack Capacity, He Says
Mr Glover also questioned whether Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have the financial, logistical and operational capacity to fully replace the work previously done under the Zoomlion arrangement.
He argued that many assemblies lack the resources required to manage large-scale street sweeping, waste collection and sanitation enforcement on their own.
“The assemblies don’t have the capacity. Logistically, materially, financially, they don’t have the capacity,” he said.
According to him, the current sanitation challenges show that policy decisions must be backed by practical alternatives before major contracts are cancelled.
Call for Enforcement and Punishment
Beyond the Zoomlion issue, Mr Glover called for stricter enforcement of sanitation laws.
He said citizens who dump refuse into drains or engage in activities that worsen flooding must be punished to deter others.
“We need to set examples for people to know that what you are doing is bad,” he said.
He argued that without discipline and enforcement, even improved drainage systems would continue to fail because drains would eventually be choked with waste.
Flooding Debate Continues
Mr Glover’s remarks add to the growing national discussion on the causes of flooding in Accra and other parts of the country.
Some have blamed poor drainage infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, building on waterways and weak enforcement of planning laws. Others have pointed to poor sanitation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the failure to regularly desilt drains before the rainy season.
For Mr Glover, the cancellation of the sanitation contract has worsened an already serious problem by disrupting routine waste collection and street sweeping.
He urged the government to reconsider its approach and ensure that any replacement arrangement is strong enough to keep the city clean and reduce flood risks.
Need for Long-Term Sanitation Planning
The former minister said Ghana must treat sanitation as a critical part of flood prevention.
He argued that flood control should not be limited to building drains or responding after disasters occur. It must also include regular cleaning, waste collection, desilting, public education and strict punishment for people who dump refuse irresponsibly.
His comments suggest that government must combine infrastructure development with strong sanitation systems if the country is to reduce recurring floods.
As the rainy season continues, attention is expected to remain on how authorities manage drains, waste collection and emergency response in flood-prone communities.
Source: Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
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