The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has sounded the alarm on the dire state of Ghana's waste management sector, warning that immediate government intervention is needed to prevent a total collapse.

According to ESPA, the sector is grappling with operational and financial distress, with many service providers struggling to stay afloat due to unprofitable and unfair fee rates fixed by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The Association revealed that several critical waste management facilities, including landfill sites and treatment plants, are on the verge of shutdown due to financial pressure.

Rising operational costs, inadequate revenue inflows, and long delays in service payments have pushed the sector to the brink.

ESPA warned that if urgent attention is not given, the waste management system could collapse, reversing years of progress made in keeping cities clean and protecting public health.

ESPA is calling on the government to take immediate action to address the sector's challenges.

Specifically, the Association is urging the government to:

- Release outstanding payments owed to waste management contractors by November 7, 2025

- Review the Sanitation and Pollution Levy as a dedicated fund to support and sustain the existing waste management infrastructure

- Ensure that MMDAs adopt fair and cost-reflective fees that cover operational expenses, maintenance, and vehicle amortisation

Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Executive Secretary of ESPA, Madam Ama Ofori Antwi, warned that failure to intervene could lead to a national sanitation and health emergency, with the potential for disease outbreaks such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.

ESPA also cautioned that several landfill and treatment facilities across the country may face imminent shutdown, disrupting waste collection services and threatening thousands of jobs.

ESPA commended President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to improving sanitation in Ghana, including the re-launch of National Sanitation Day and the call to MMDCEs to prioritise sanitation.

The Association urged the government to provide urgent support to the sector to prevent a collapse and ensure the continued provision of essential waste management services.