Agbogloshie waste evacuation: Full-capacity haulage to take place at night – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the major haulage of waste from Agbogloshie in Accra to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam will take place at night, as government begins a massive operation to clear an estimated one million tonnes of accumulated garbage.

The President made the announcement on Friday, September 18, 2026, when he officially commissioned the evacuation exercise at Agbogloshie.

The operation is expected to last about 90 days and forms part of government’s broader efforts to tackle Ghana’s longstanding sanitation challenges.

Full-capacity operation to happen at night

President Mahama explained that the decision to undertake the major haulage at night is intended to minimise disruption while allowing large volumes of waste to be transported efficiently.

According to him, some waste evacuation will continue during the day, but on a smaller scale.

At night, however, the operation will move into full capacity.

“In the daytime, there will be some evacuation of garbage but at the lower scale, and then in the night we go to full capacity,” President Mahama said.

He linked the arrangement to the government’s 24-Hour Economy Initiative, while stressing that the safety of residents, road users and communities along the haulage routes must remain a priority.

One million tonnes of waste to be removed

The scale of the operation is significant.

A drone-assisted artificial intelligence assessment has estimated that the accumulated waste at Agbogloshie amounts to approximately one million tonnes.

The waste will be excavated, loaded and transported to the Adepa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, where it will undergo controlled disposal, compaction and covering.

The evacuation is expected to address years of accumulated waste, including plastics, discarded electronic equipment and other refuse.

Heavy machinery deployed

Government is deploying heavy-duty equipment acquired under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) for the exercise.

The equipment includes:

• Tipper trucks
• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Wheel loaders

The Ghana Armed Forces, particularly the 48 Engineers Regiment, is also providing operational and engineering support.

Mahama said the exercise demonstrates how existing state resources and institutions can be brought together to tackle major national challenges.

Agbogloshie to make way for industrial park

The waste evacuation is not only about cleaning the area.

President Mahama said the cleared land will form part of the proposed Agbogloshie Urban Land Renewal Project, with plans to transform the reclaimed area into an industrial park.

He further announced plans for a major textile factory to be established there as part of efforts to create employment opportunities for young people.

The President said the transformation would follow the removal of the longstanding public health and environmental hazards associated with open dumping and burning.

Mahama warns against renewed dumping

The President also stressed the importance of ensuring that Agbogloshie does not return to its previous condition after the evacuation.

He has called for measures to protect the reclaimed land and prevent renewed dumping once the exercise is completed.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly are expected to enforce sanitation by-laws to support the effort.

Appeal to residents

President Mahama appealed to residents of Agbogloshie and Old Fadama to cooperate with the military personnel, DRIP operators and assembly teams during the exercise.

He said the project was ultimately aimed at improving the health, dignity and living conditions of people in the surrounding communities.

The operation therefore marks the beginning of a major clean-up exercise, with government hoping that the removal of the massive waste heaps will pave the way for a long-term transformation of the area.

With approximately one million tonnes of waste expected to be evacuated within 90 days, the scale of the Agbogloshie operation is set to make it one of the country’s most significant waste-management exercises in recent years.