Institutional arrangements for managing solid waste in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana

Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, University of Cape Coast
Simon Mariwah, University of Cape Coast

Urban waste management is one of the challenges of metropolis, particularly those in developing countries. Waste management in African countries has direct bearing on aspects of the health indicators in the MDGs. Using the classical and governance approaches, the study examines the capacity and levels of coordination between relevant institutions managing solid waste in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana. Stratified sampling was used to select 184 households while purposive sampling was used to select officials of institutions and other stakeholders in solid waste management. Household respondents acknowledged indiscriminate dumping of refuse but attributed it to weak institutional capacity and poor coordination among stakeholders to manage solid waste in the metropolis. As a result, individuals were unwilling to pay for services, thus further compounding the ability of the administration to provide services. There is the need for strong institutional capacity and community mobilization to address solid waste management at various levels.