The Borla Taxi and Tricycle Association has sworn in a new set of national executives, signalling a renewed drive to strengthen the role of informal waste collectors in Ghana’s sanitation and waste management efforts.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Tuesday, February 3, at the Omanye Hall of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, drew officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Local Government, Footprints Ghana, ESPA, People’s Dialogue and other sanitation-focused partners, reflecting growing institutional recognition of the association’s work.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the BTTA Board, Godsway Asamani, said the swearing-in went beyond a change of leadership and amounted to a binding commitment to public service. He described the moment as “a solemn covenant of responsibility to members and the nation”. He praised the outgoing executives for strengthening the association’s credibility in sanitation advocacy and organisational governance.
Mr Asamani said the new leadership would pursue transparency, inclusivity and clear strategic direction, while embedding gender balance within the association’s structures. He added that the board would focus on reinforcing governance systems, expanding partnerships with government and civil society, mobilising resources for programmes and strengthening media engagement to amplify advocacy around waste management.
The Director of Waste Management at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Victor Kortey, who chaired the ceremony, described the event as a milestone in the city’s engagement with the informal waste sector. He recalled that initial interactions between the Assembly and informal collectors were fraught with tension, but said collaboration had proven more effective than confrontation.
According to him, the decision to formally register informal collectors and build their capacity through partnerships with local and international organisations had transformed service delivery. He acknowledged their growing contribution and reaffirmed the Assembly’s support, noting that improved internal governance would enhance the city’s ability to “win the ongoing fight against filth”.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President of the association, Johnbosco Avom Aduko, traced the group’s evolution since 2014, when members faced harassment from former contractors before uniting to protect their livelihoods. He said the association now operates in communities previously underserved by traditional waste contractors.
He revealed that informal waste collectors account for an estimated 75 per cent of waste collection in the Greater Accra area, a statistic he said underscored their central role in Ghana’s waste management system. Mr Aduko urged the new executives to remain focused on improving the association’s image while contributing meaningfully to environmental protection.
Addressing journalists after the ceremony, he called on the the government to tackle persistent landfill challenges, noting that existing disposal sites around Tema and Kpone are far from many operational zones. He appealed for the establishment of additional transfer stations to reduce costs and pressure on collectors, while pledging the association’s commitment to curbing improper waste disposal.
Mr Aduko added that the association’s operations now extend beyond Accra to cities including Kumasi, Tarkwa and Takoradi, positioning the Borla Taxi and Tricycle Association as a key stakeholder in Ghana’s sanitation landscape.
Source: Classfmonline
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