Assessment of institutional structures for solid waste management in Kumasi

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out and document what reforms have taken place in the institutional structure for solid waste management (SWM) in Kumasi since the inception of a National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP) in Ghana in 1999, and what impact institutional reforms have made on solid waste collection service efficiency. Design/methodology/approach – The study undertook a before-and-after assessment of key institutional issues as well as service efficiency within five years of the inception of the policy using questionnaires and interviews to collect data and information from relevant SWM stakeholders in the metropolis. Findings – It was found that the implementation of the policy has led to changes in the organizational structure for SWM in the city with the introduction of private sector participation, which has led to improvement in efficiency in terms of service coverage and cost recovery. Service coverage increased from about 50 per cent in 1999 to an annual average of 87.4 per cent between 2000 and 2004, while the amount recovered through house-to-house collection services increased from 26.5 per cent of the WMD’s expenditure in 2001 to 68.6 per cent in 2004. Practical implications – The findings and recommendations can inform future SWM policy reviews and implementation in the city and elsewhere. Originality/value – The study is the first attempt at documenting the historical evolution towards the current institutional structure and a scientific assessment of the impact of the reforms on service efficiency in Ghana