The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called for swift intervention in addressing the government's outstanding debt of GH¢1.2 billion owed to waste management service providers, particularly Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom TV on April 1, 2025, Ibrahim revealed that the debt, accumulated over the past two years, was inherited from the previous Akufo-Addo administration and continues to pose a significant challenge for the current government.

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“I have discussed this issue with the Minister of Finance, and it has been confirmed that the state owes Zoomlion GH¢1.2 billion for waste management services that have not been paid for,” he stated.

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He stressed the urgent need for a resolution, warning that failure to settle the debt could have severe consequences on sanitation across the country. According to him, private sector involvement in waste management is crucial, as the government lacks the necessary infrastructure to handle the growing waste crisis on its own.

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“Zoomlion has made huge strides in building advanced waste management systems, but without them, we would be ill-equipped to manage Ghana’s waste problems. Their work in faecal waste management, in particular, has been indispensable,” Ibrahim noted.

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Highlighting the potential risks, he warned of a possible nationwide sanitation crisis should Zoomlion halt operations due to financial constraints. He further urged the government to prioritize sanitation efforts, particularly in light of the recent cholera outbreak in coastal regions such as Cape Coast, Winneba, and Takoradi on October 24, 2023.

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The minister also commended Zoomlion for its substantial investments in modern waste treatment and recycling facilities, which have played a critical role in addressing Ghana’s waste challenges. He recalled the negative environmental and health impacts of past waste disposal practices, particularly the direct dumping of faecal waste into the sea, a practice largely mitigated by Zoomlion’s liquid waste recycling plants.

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“Zoomlion’s plants now process sewage into compost and charcoal, aligning with the ban on sea disposal introduced by former President John Dramani Mahama in 2016,” he explained.

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Ibrahim reiterated his call for urgent action, emphasizing that ensuring timely payments to waste management firms is not just a financial obligation but a matter of national health and environmental safety.

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