The problems and potentials of privatising solid waste management in Kumasi, Ghana

In an effort to improve the poor record of the city's solid waste services, Kumasi authorities wish to transfer operations to private producers. This shift will create a completely new set of roles and responsibilities for th e various actors involved in solid waste management. Unfortunately, Ghana's history of state-led development has not produced a very receptive environ ment to this endeavour. While the private sector suffers from underdevelopm ent in general and inexperience in delivering services in particular, the l ocal government is still insufficiently equipped to adequately manage the p rocess. Kumasi's residents are willing to contribute financially to a priva tised system but insist on receiving value-for-money. This paper argues in favour of a business-like approach to the problem, while admitting that con tinued financial support on the part of the authorities as well as communit y support remain indispensable. Measures are being proposed to foster micro -enterprise involvement in waste collection, to promote the use of alternat ive technologies and to investigate potentials for recycling and reuse of w aste. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.