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The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has issued a stark warning that the Oti Landfill Site, the primary waste disposal facility for the Greater Kumasi area, will be closed down in the next three months if urgent measures are not taken to address its crippling financial struggles.
The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Boadi, made the announcement in a press conference, highlighting the severe financial constraints facing the assembly.
According to Mayor Ofori-Boadi, the Oti Landfill Site is overwhelmed with waste from not only Kumasi but also neighboring assemblies, including Atwima Nwabiagya, Ejisu, and Kwabre East, among others.
This has put a significant strain on the assembly’s finances, making it challenging to manage the facility effectively.
The Mayor lamented that despite receiving a minimum allocation from the common fund, the assembly is forced to use its meager resources to manage the massive waste burden, which is unsustainable.
The situation is further exacerbated by the government’s failure to compensate the assembly for the use of the Kumasi Composite Site over the past four years, resulting in significant revenue losses.
Additionally, the assembly is saddled with outstanding debts, including arrears owed to the Oti Landfill Site for the past three years.
Mayor Ofori-Boadi revealed that the volume of waste being dumped at the site has skyrocketed to over 2,000 tons per day, far exceeding the facility’s capacity.
To address this crisis, the assembly is considering constructing additional cells at a cost of approximately six million euros.
The Mayor’s warning underscores the gravity of the situation, and stakeholders are being urged to take immediate action to avert the impending closure of the Oti Landfill Site.
The closure would have far-reaching consequences, including unmanageable waste accumulation, environmental hazards, and public health risks.
