Sekondi-Takoradi needs €54 million to rescue its overwhelmed landfill.The city has applied for funding from the C40 Cities Financial Facility to completely overhaul the struggling Sofokrom site, the only official dump serving Ghana’s Western Region.
This critical upgrade aims to turn a mounting environmental and financial burden into a model of sustainable waste management.
The 68-acre Sofokrom landfill is buckling under pressure. Serving multiple districts, including Shama and Ahanta West, it costs the Metropolitan Assembly nearly GHC 900,000 monthly.
Problems escalated after its sole waste truck broke down, and poor access roads during rains frequently disrupt collections. This chaos fuels rampant illegal dumping across the region, compounding the crisis.
Mayor Fredrick Faidoo outlined a transformative vision for the funding. The plan centres on building a modern biodigester and recycling plant.
“The proposed facility will provide a holistic solution,” Faidoo explained. “It turns organic waste into biogas while recycling plastics and metals. This cuts emissions, reduces landfill dependence, and actually creates value from waste.” Currently, the site releases harmful methane and CO2 directly into the air, lacking any gas capture system.
C40 Cities officials recently inspected the site and endorsed the project’s ambition. Abraham Afful, C40’s National Coordinator, called it “visionary” and stressed the urgent need for better hygiene and waste separation practices locally. If approved, the investment wouldn’t just fix Sofokrom.
It would position Sekondi-Takoradi as a pioneer for sustainable urban waste solutions in Africa, converting a critical environmental hazard into a source of renewable energy and local economic opportunity. The city waits, hoping its green blueprint secures the crucial funding.
