A Ghanaian living in the United States has criticised successive governments for failing to transform waste into an economic resource, arguing that poor waste management continues to worsen flooding and cost lives in Ghana.
In a video posted on July 2, 2026, the man, who said he has worked at a landfill facility in the United States for more than 15 years, urged Ghanaian authorities to adopt modern waste management systems that generate revenue while improving sanitation and reducing flood risks.
His comments come in the wake of the devastating June 29 floods that claimed lives and destroyed properties across parts of the Greater Accra Region.
“Leaders of Ghana, look at all these trucks lined up here. They are waste collection trucks at a landfill in the US. Just a few days ago, floods claimed lives and destroyed properties in Ghana, partly because of poor waste disposal,” he said.
According to him, landfill sites in the United States are designed to convert waste into valuable resources, including methane gas that is used to power some of the waste collection trucks.
“In the US, the government generates huge sums of money from waste. The gas used to power these trucks is produced from this landfill,” he stated.
He questioned why Ghanaian officials fail to adopt similar waste management practices after travelling abroad for official engagements.
“When our leaders travel to the US for conferences, why don’t they learn how they have developed their waste management systems instead of importing excavators that end up being used for illegal mining?” he asked.
The man also praised the strict operational standards at the landfill where he works, explaining that waste collection trucks are required to ensure no refuse is left on the roads during transportation.
“You will not see a truck leave behind trash that falls from it. If anything drops, they go back to pick it up and dispose of it properly,” he said.
He further argued that heavy-duty equipment used to operate landfill sites in the United States could be deployed in Ghana to improve waste management instead of being diverted to illegal mining activities.
“Yesterday’s floods, which claimed lives and destroyed property, inspired me to make this video. I have worked in this industry for over 15 years, and I am concerned that our governments have failed to turn waste into wealth the way it is being done in the West,” he added.
