The stench hits first before the heaps of refuse come into view. At major intersections, market centres, and drains across the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, piles of waste now compete for space with traders and pedestrians, painting an unpleasant picture of a city once admired for its cleanliness.
For many residents, the worsening sanitation situation has become more than just an eyesore. It has become a daily struggle marked by choked gutters, flooding after short downpours, and fears of another disease outbreak. That growing frustration appears to have finally reached the top.
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has publicly expressed disappointment over what he describes as poor waste management in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, openly criticizing the handling of sanitation by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).
Speaking to journalists after the Eid al-Adha celebrations, the visibly worried minister did not mince words.
“I do not like the way the city looks now in terms of waste management,” he stated repeatedly, stressing that although he had privately engaged city authorities on the issue several times, he felt compelled to speak publicly because the situation was deteriorating.“As regional minister, I’m not happy with the way the STMA itself manages waste in the city,” he declared.
The remarks are likely to intensify public scrutiny on the leadership of the metropolis, particularly Mayor Frederick Faidoo, at a time residents continue to complain about delayed refuse collection, poor drainage management and the apparent lack of urgency in tackling sanitation concerns.
Across parts of Sekondi, Takoradi and adjoining communities, heaps of refuse are sometimes left uncleared for days in broad daylight, emitting strong odour and attracting flies. In communities such as Sekondi Prisons and other flood-prone areas, residents say even a short rainfall now leaves roads and homes submerged.
With the rainy season gradually setting in, many residents say there is little indication that the Assembly is adequately prepared to deal with the expected heavy rains. In parts of the Takoradi Market Circle and several other communities, major gutters remain heavily silted.
Residents who spoke to this reporter questioned why large-scale desilting exercises have not yet been undertaken despite repeated flooding incidents in recent years.For traders and commuters, the fear is growing that the metropolis may once again witness avoidable flooding should the rains intensify in the coming weeks.
At some market centres, hawkers are forced to conduct business close to overflowing bins while motorists navigate waterlogged roads after rains. Residents blame the flooding largely on choked drains filled with plastic waste and other debris.
The regional minister acknowledged that while the Assembly has a major responsibility, residents themselves must also change their attitudes toward sanitation.“We are people that basically do not care about what happens around us,” he lamented.
According to him, many residents watch unconcerned as people dump refuse into drains without challenging such behaviour, only to later complain when floods occur.
“That same thing that you expect the MCE or myself or an officer to come and speak about, it’s that same thing that is going to cause the flooding that we all don’t want,” he stressed.Mr. Nelson further linked poor sanitation to public health dangers, reminding residents about the cholera outbreak Ghana experienced in 2024.
“The other problem that emerges from our inability to manage waste well is disease,” he warned, adding that he does not want the region to experience another cholera outbreak during his tenure.
“We can only avoid it if we stay focused on doing things right,” he added.
Even so, the minister maintained that the STMA must do more.“I’m speaking to individuals to manage waste properly… but the STMA itself must also do more than it’s doing now,” he emphasized.
His comments are expected to renew debate over sanitation management in the ‘oil city’, especially as residents increasingly question why a metropolis regarded as the commercial hub of the Western Region continues to struggle with refuse accumulation, choked drains and perennial flooding.
For many residents, however, the concern now goes beyond politics or blame. Their biggest fear is whether authorities can restore cleanliness and clear major drains before the heavy rains begin in full force.Until then, the smell of refuse and the anxiety of flooding remain part of everyday life in Ghana’s twin city metropolis.
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