Local Government Minister Urges Waste Managers to Suspend Planned Strike as Government Moves to Clear Arrears

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has made an urgent appeal to members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) to suspend their planned nationwide strike scheduled for November 7, 2025, assuring that the government is working swiftly to resolve their long-standing grievances.

Speaking to journalists after leading the November edition of the National Sanitation Day exercise in Accra on Saturday, November 1, Mr. Ibrahim said the government had already initiated high-level consultations with the association’s leadership and relevant ministries to address the issue of unpaid arrears owed to waste management companies.

“We are engaging with the leadership of ESPA and other key stakeholders to find a lasting solution. The government is aware of the challenges and is already working on payment arrangements to address the arrears,” the Minister stated.

Background to the Impending Strike

The Environmental Service Providers Association, a coalition of private waste management companies that collect and manage solid waste across the country, has threatened to suspend operations from November 7 if the government fails to clear three years of accumulated arrears.

The Executive Secretary of ESPA, Madam Ama Ofori Antwi, disclosed at a recent press briefing that the association’s members were on the brink of collapse due to the government’s failure to pay them for services rendered.

She explained that many companies had resorted to bank loans and supplier credit facilities to keep operations running, warning that a shutdown could lead to a national sanitation and public health crisis.

“Without immediate government intervention, waste collection in major cities will come to a standstill, and we may see piles of refuse across the country,” Madam Antwi warned.

Government Response and Ongoing Dialogue

In response, Mr. Ibrahim reassured the public that the government is fully committed to resolving the matter to ensure that waste management services are not disrupted.

He revealed that his Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, is working closely with ESPA executives to finalise a payment roadmap to clear the arrears.

“We understand the financial pressure these companies are facing, but we also want to assure Ghanaians that the government is not resting on this matter. We are working around the clock to ensure services continue uninterrupted,” he noted.

The Minister further appealed to ESPA members to exercise patience and goodwill, stressing that dialogue and collaboration remain the most effective paths to resolving the impasse.

“We appreciate the concerns of our service providers, but we also urge them to continue their patriotic service as government addresses these challenges. We are determined to find a lasting solution that ensures sustainability in the sanitation sector,” he added.

Focus on Sustaining Sanitation Gains

Touching on the National Sanitation Day initiative, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the growing public participation and the improvements in cleanliness levels in major towns and cities since the programme’s re-launch by President John Dramani Mahama earlier this year.

“We are beginning to see significant improvements in sanitation levels in several parts of the country. The public response has been encouraging, and we will continue to sustain this momentum,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Rita Odoley Sowah, also used the occasion to remind citizens of their collective responsibility in maintaining clean communities.

“Keeping our environment clean is not just a government duty — it’s a shared responsibility. Every citizen must play their part to ensure a cleaner, healthier Ghana,” she urged.

Potential Consequences of the Strike

If ESPA proceeds with its planned strike, experts warn that waste collection in major urban centres such as Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale could come to a halt, leading to unsanitary conditions, air pollution, and disease outbreaks.

Sanitation analysts have therefore praised the Minister’s intervention but cautioned that swift action is needed to avert what could become a nationwide environmental and public health emergency.

As negotiations continue, both government officials and ESPA executives have expressed optimism that a mutually beneficial agreement will be reached before the November 7 deadline to keep Ghana’s sanitation services running smoothly.