AfriNova executive says technology could improve Ghana’s waste collection

Technology could help improve the efficiency and accountability of Ghana’s waste-management system, according to Alex Kwame Danquah, Managing Partner for Operations at AfriNova Waste Solutions Limited.

Speaking on Asaase Radio’s Townhall Talk on 10 July, Danquah said digital systems could reduce uncertainty for households seeking to dispose of refuse and for businesses requiring regular collection services.

He said some residents depend on informal tricycle operators passing through their communities before they can dispose of waste. Businesses, he added, can also find it difficult to secure dependable collection arrangements.

Danquah said digital platforms could support scheduled collection, payments, coordination and accountability between waste generators and collectors.

Under the WasteTail platform described by Danquah, tricycle operators would transport waste to designated transfer stations. Larger trucks would then move the refuse from those points to approved disposal sites.

He said the approach was intended to improve traceability across the waste-management chain and strengthen collaboration with local assemblies.

Recycling and landfill pressure

Danquah also pointed to recycling as an important part of a sustainable sanitation system. He said a significant share of Ghana’s waste could be processed into compost or recycled into new products, helping to reduce the pressure on landfill sites.

He argued that technology would need to be matched by stronger institutional support to improve the wider sanitation system.

The comments form part of continuing discussion about how waste collection, disposal and recovery can be better organised in Ghana’s growing communities.