The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) hosted a pivotal engagement with the C40 Cities Finance Facility on August 12, 2025, to discuss the proposed Integrated Waste Bio-digestion and Recycling Project aimed at revolutionizing waste management in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana.
The meeting held at the STMA Chamber room marked a significant step towards addressing the city’s mounting waste challenges and aligning with national climate goals.
The day began with speeches emphasizing the urgency and potential impact of the initiative. Mr. Yasar Cohen-Shah, Knowledge Officer at C40 Cities Finance Facility, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting C40’s decade-long global efforts to support climate-smart infrastructure in southern hemisphere cities.
Mr. Cohen-Shah explained that the facility’s role is to assist cities like Sekondi-Takoradi in advancing mature projects towards financial readiness and implementation, particularly focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through innovative waste management solutions.
He noted C40’s previous experience in Accra’s waste projects and expressed hope that Sekondi-Takoradi could become a regional leader in waste management, fostering knowledge exchange and scalability.
Sekondi-Takoradi’s Metro Chief Executive, Lawyer Fredrick F. Faidoo, detailed the local waste management struggles, including inadequate collection infrastructure, inefficient systems overwhelmed by rapid urban growth, and a landfill site at Sofokrom operating without proper gas collection, leading to significant methane emissions.
Lawyer Faidoo underscored that the proposed bio-digestion and recycling plant would transform organic waste into biogas and compost, while improving recycling processes for plastics and metals—thus significantly cutting emissions and enhancing public health.
He emphasized the project’s alignment with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and the recent Environmental Protection Act 2025 mandating local climate action.
Following the indoor discussions, attendees visited the Sofokrom landfill site where firsthand observations highlighted the urgency for change.
Mr. Abraham Afful, C40’s National Coordinator, reflected on the site’s conditions and the informal waste pickers’ vital role in recovering valuable materials despite hazardous circumstances.
He affirmed that diverting organic and recyclable waste from the landfill not only extends its lifespan but also mitigates environmental damage and protects public health.
Mr. Afful advocated for better waste separation at the source to supply cleaner materials to industries, thereby promoting job creation and sustainable resource use.
Mr. Edwin Bonsu, head of waste management at STMA, further illustrated the practical challenges faced on the ground—such as financial constraints, limited equipment, and operational inefficiencies.
He stressed the project’s potential to reduce costs substantially, create employment opportunities, and transition the city from landfill dependency to a circular waste economy through sorting, composting, and recycling.
Mr. Bonsu called for government and private sector support to overcome financial hurdles and realize a sustainable, climate-smart waste management system in Sekondi-Takoradi.
This engagement between STMA and the C40 Cities Finance Facility represents an important collaborative effort to implement an integrated and sustainable waste management solution in Sekondi-Takoradi.
With further technical and financial feasibility studies planned, the project holds promise not only for significant environmental benefits but also for enhancing social welfare and economic resilience within the city and beyond.
The partnership aims to set an exemplary model for waste management reform in Ghana, inspiring other cities to follow suit in the face of global climate challenges.