Accra, July 23, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Adjei Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Wednesday said the sub-metros of the various Metropolitan Assemblies are to be strengthened to enable them to perform effectively in the area of waste management.

He said a number of contracts have been concluded for the supply of sanitation equipment, which include 20 skip loader trucks, 180 open skip containers, 20 covered skip containers and 23 cesspit emptier trucks to be distributed to the various metro districts.

Mr Darko said this when he interacted with staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) during a visit to the Assembly in Accra. As part of the visit, the Minister inspected work at the Salaga Market. Work on the market has been going on for six years and would be completed in August and commissioned in September.

Mr Darko noted that AMA faces many challenges of inefficient waste disposal management practices, haphazard development of settlements, poor identification of property and flooding.

He said to enable AMA to cope with its responsibilities and deal decisively with the problems of Accra, government has given approval for the establishment of seven new sub-metropolitan councils in addition to the existing six.

"The creation of 13 sub-metropolitan councils implies an obvious re-demarcation of AMA into relatively smaller and more manageable areas. It means a delineation of the scope, influence and responsibilities of various units of the AMA."

Mr Darko said the increase in number of sub-metropolitan councils should be translated into improvement in efficient revenue collection, particularly in property rates, taxes and levies and efficient waste management strategies at the sub-metro level.

He asked the AMA to ensure the establishment of functional secretariats for the sub-metros with full complement of the requisite professional, technical and supporting staff for the smooth administration of the councils.

Mr Solomon Ofei Darko, Chief Executive of AMA, briefed the Minister about activities of the assembly and said inadequate remuneration and other unattractive conditions of service were factors, which hinder the performance of staff.

He said other major challenges have been identified as poor sanitation and waste management, congestion in the central business district, unauthorized structures/buildings, menace of hawkers and inadequate revenue mobilisation.

"These problems are compounded by the fact that the AMA has to grapple with national, regional and district issues at the same time with inadequate resources."

Mr Darko said the city of Accra generates between 1,300 to 1,500 tonnes of solid waste daily but AMA is able to collect an average of 1,200 tonnes daily. He added that over two billion cedis was spent on solid waste collection and management monthly.

"Waste management is indeed an expensive venture which requires heavy financial injection to ensure a healthy environment."