The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is seeking €54 million to address worsening challenges at the Sofokrom landfill site, the only official dumping ground for the Western Region.
The 68-acre site receives waste from several districts, including Shama and Ahanta West, but its condition has become a major concern.
According to city officials, the landfill is increasingly difficult and expensive to manage, costing the Assembly nearly GHC900,000 each month.
Things have gotten worse following the breakdown of the Assembly’s only waste truck. During the rainy season, poor access roads make it nearly impossible to collect waste efficiently, leading to a rise in illegal dumping around the city.
In a bold move to reverse this trend, the Assembly has applied for €54 million in funding from the C40 Cities Financial Facility.
The proposal includes building a biodigester and recycling plant to modernise waste processing and reduce environmental harm.
Mayor Fredrick Faidoo says the landfill currently lacks a gas collection system, which means harmful greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide are being released unchecked.
“The proposed facility will provide a holistic solution by turning organic waste into biogas and recycling materials like plastics and metals. This approach will cut emissions, reduce landfill dependence, and create value from waste,” he explained.
During a recent site visit, C40 Cities officials praised the project’s potential. Abraham Afful, C40’s National Coordinator, described it as visionary and stressed the need to improve hygiene and waste separation practices across the city.
If approved, the funding could help transform the region’s waste crisis into a model of sustainable urban development.
