Organic waste management in Ghana is increasingly focused on diverting organic materials from landfills to valuable resources such as compost and biogas. This shift is driven by the significant proportion of organic waste found in municipal solid waste.
Several initiatives, including public-private partnerships and community-based projects, are working to implement sustainable waste management solutions.
Leading in this area is the Green Africa Youth Organisation, which has developed the award-winning Zero Waste Model program in the Africa Region.
In Ghana, GAYO is spearheading the “Mainstreaming Organic Waste Management Across 11 Countries” initiative. This project is being implemented by members of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) in various African nations. Funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the project aims to reduce methane emissions by promoting practices such as waste source separation and the diversion of organic materials from landfills.
In this article, the fifth instalment of our ongoing series highlighting the impactful work of our members under this initiative, we feature a conversation with Jacob Johnson Attakpah, the Zero Waste Cities Manager at the Green Africa Youth Organization. He shares his insights and experiences as Ghana’s partner in the “Mainstreaming Organic Waste Management Across 11 Countries” project.
Can you provide an overview of your organization and its mission, highlighting your key activities and focus areas?
Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) is a youth-led, gender-balanced non-governmental organisation operating in Ghana, Uganda and Botswana. We focus primarily on environmental sustainability and community development with the core aim of carrying out research and providing solutions to pressing ecological issues.
We do this through youth empowerment, skills development and public education, working directly with local communities to reduce the vulnerability of groups that are at risk from climate impacts.
How has membership with the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) influenced your organisation’s work, and what benefits have you derived from this partnership?
Being a member of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has significantly shaped and enhanced GAYO’s work in several ways, like knowledge exchange & technical support, Policy Advocacy Strengthening, Campaign Amplification, Funding Opportunities and Capacity Building. Our partnership with GAIA has been particularly valuable in strengthening our Zero Waste Program, enabling us to implement more comprehensive community-based waste management systems and build more compelling cases against harmful waste disposal practices across Africa.
What are your thoughts on the waste crisis that many countries in the region are facing?
As a zero waste project implementer working on municipal solid waste (including organics, textiles, e-waste, and plastics), I see the African region’s waste crisis not just as an environmental emergency but as an opportunity for circular innovation and social justice. Rapid urbanisation, weak infrastructure, and rising consumption patterns have outpaced the development of environmentally sound waste management systems.
The crisis is compounded by the influx of low-grade imports, especially plastics and textiles, combined with a lack of producer responsibility and limited investment in recycling ecosystems, culminating in waste colonialism.
Organic waste, which forms over 50% of the waste stream in many African cities, is rarely recovered, yet holds immense potential for composting and regenerative agriculture. Meanwhile, e-waste and textiles are often dumped or burned, exposing communities to toxic emissions, resulting in deplorable air quality. The informal sector remains marginalised despite its critical role in recovery and livelihoods.
Addressing the crisis requires localised, zero-waste systems that prioritise upstream solutions, build public awareness, and integrate informal actors as co-creators, not afterthoughts. This is not just about managing waste better; it’s about rethinking systems for climate resilience, green jobs, and community health.
Your organisation is part of the Mainstreaming Organic Waste Management Across 11 Countries CCAC project in Africa. What has attracted your organisation to this project, and what are your hopes for organic waste management work in your country?
GAYO was attracted to the CCAC-funded Organic Waste Management Project because it aligns with our mission to implement circular economy solutions, creating valuable learning opportunities, reducing methane emissions, and generating green jobs for youth and people living in vulnerable situations.
We hope it will promote national policy shifts, expand our community composting models, develop sustainable markets for organic products, and transform public perception of organic waste management from problem to climate solution across Ghana and Africa.
Under the CCAC project, what are the primary campaigns or initiatives your organisation is currently implementing to address organic waste management challenges? [i.e. Training on source separation and organics management, outreach to waste picker groups, policy work, local & national government engagement, education campaigns]?
We have carried out several campaigns under the CCAC project as listed below;
- Hands-on community training workshops on source separation techniques and home composting methods
- Partnering with local waste picker associations to improve their capacity for organic waste collection and management
- Engaging with municipal authorities to develop supportive bylaws for waste separation at source
- Advocating for national policy frameworks that prioritise environmentally sound organic waste management
- Running school-based education campaigns that use practical demonstrations to teach students about composting
- Establishing demonstration sites in our MRF that showcase different types of composting technologies.
What has been a personal milestone or most memorable moment for your organisation working on this project?
The most memorable milestone for GAYO during the CCAC project has been witnessing the transformation of waste picker groups from marginalised workers to community educators and advocates. Seeing these groups conduct their outreach events to educate communities about the importance of source separation was particularly powerful. It demonstrated how environmental solutions can emerge from and be led by those most directly affected by waste management challenges.
Equally significant was our work on developing proposals for local policies and standards for source separation and organics management. The training sessions we conducted with district environmental health officers and the regional directorate on policy enforcement and bylaws implementation marked a crucial step toward institutionalising organic waste management practices. These officers now have the knowledge and tools to enforce source separation requirements in their jurisdictions effectively.
Our organic management education campaigns have also been transformative, creating ripple effects throughout communities as residents began to understand that organic waste is a valuable resource rather than just waste. The combination of grassroots advocacy by waste picker groups, policy development work, and community education has created a comprehensive approach that addresses organic waste management from multiple angles simultaneously.
What are the most pressing issues related to organic waste management in your country, and how do these challenges continue to influence how your organisation works on the problems?
The most pressing issues related to organic waste management in Ghana that continue to shape GAYO’s approach include Lack of Source Separation Infrastructure, Limited Awareness, Policy Implementation Gaps, & Funding and Resource Limitations.
Looking ahead to the next few years, what type of needs or support do you anticipate to continue advocacy in organic waste management in your country?
Looking ahead to the next few years, we anticipate several key areas where continued support will be critical for advancing organic waste management advocacy in Ghana. Proper Infrastructure for Source Separation, Awareness, and Behavioural changes, as well as advocacy and education from the community to national stages, should be prioritised. Additionally, policy implementation or enforcement should be prioritised, while Funding and resources are made readily available for this cause.
How does your organisation’s work on waste management intersect with social justice concerns, and how do you address these intersections in your advocacy and programming?
The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) integrates waste management with social justice by prioritising the inclusion, empowerment, and protection of marginalised communities, particularly informal waste workers, women, youth, people with disabilities, and others living in vulnerable conditions. This approach, titled “Centering Marginalized Voices in Waste Management,” ensures that environmental sustainability efforts advance equity and human dignity.
The GAYO Model actively involves informal waste workers in the waste management value chain. By providing training and employment opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds—such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities—GAYO not only improves waste management practices but also creates sustainable livelihoods. For example, in 2023, 70 green jobs were created, benefiting over 5,000 people directly and indirectly.
Addressing health and safety concerns is crucial. Recognising the health risks faced by informal waste workers, GAYO has organised training sessions that focus on health and safety, best working practices, and the proper use of protective equipment. These initiatives aim to reduce occupational hazards and improve the well-being of waste workers.
We also engage in advocacy and policy efforts to promote the rights and recognition of informal waste workers. This engagement includes working with policymakers and organising events such as International Waste Day to highlight the contributions of waste pickers and advocate for their inclusion in waste management systems.
GAYO collaborates with municipal assemblies, including La Dade Kotopon, Ledzokuku, Ablekuma West, Korley Klottey, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, to implement projects that establish Material Recovery Facilities and community buy-back centres, while promoting waste segregation. These partnerships aim to integrate informal waste workers into cooperative systems, enhancing their economic opportunities and social standing.
To measure social justice outcomes, GAYO tracks metrics such as job creation, waste diversion from landfills, and community engagement. In 2023 alone, 170 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfills, resulting in an estimated reduction of 3.6 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, demonstrating tangible environmental and social benefits.
Through these multifaceted approaches, GAYO exemplifies how waste management can serve as a pathway to social justice, ensuring that environmental initiatives are inclusive and equitable.
Are there any quotes, mottos, or beliefs that the organisation tries to adopt in all its work?
Those closest to the problem often have the solutions. There is no environmental justice without inclusion.
ENDS.
