Kofi Bentil: Ghana’s Sanitation Crisis Needs Engineering Solutions, Not Theatrics

The Senior Vice President of Imani Ghana and lawyer, Kofi Bentil has argued that Ghana’s sanitation challenge demands decisive leadership and engineering driven planning instead of symbolic public clean up exercises.

He contended that the country’s recurring waste management difficulties persist because leaders have avoided long term solutions while relying on activities that create public attention.

Discussing the national clean up exercise, the Imani Vice President criticised the conduct of some political leaders during Friday’s campaign, indicating that several participants appeared more interested in publicity than resolving the underlying sanitation challenge.

Mr Bentil stressed that meaningful progress requires difficult policy decisions supported by technical expertise and sustained implementation.

According to him, sanitation remains an engineering issue that calls for careful planning, proper infrastructure and competent management at every stage of waste collection and disposal.

He argued that Ghana possesses enough financial and human resources to transform its cities if institutions embrace practical solutions instead of temporary interventions.

“Yesterday most of our leaders went to take pictures. We do not want to solve the problem. They want to show people they are working instead of doing the heavy thinking needed to solve sanitation” he noted.

Drawing historical comparisons, Mr Bentil recalled criticising former President Jerry John Rawlings for personally joining clean up exercises years ago. From his perspective, the responsibility of national leaders is to demand accountability from officials responsible for sanitation services and sanction those who fail to perform their duties.

The lawyer explained that cities across the world overcame similar sanitation challenges through scientific planning instead of periodic communal labour.

In his assessment, countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States invested in modern waste management systems that continue to serve growing populations.

Turning to Accra’s waste disposal situation, the Imani Vice President observed that the capital has exhausted available landfill space after decades of rapid urban growth. He therefore proposed identifying a suitable location outside densely populated communities and developing an engineered landfill connected by efficient transport infrastructure.

He reasoned that government should exercise its authority to secure appropriate land for modern waste facilities where necessary. Equally important, he emphasised that professionally designed landfills remain essential to protecting public health while supporting sustainable urban development.

Mr Bentil also referred to previous landfill developments around the Korle Lagoon and argued that poor planning had created avoidable environmental challenges. He added that Ghana should rely on knowledge already available across the world instead of repeatedly experimenting with approaches that have failed to produce cleaner cities.

He finally urged government to assemble engineers, planners and environmental experts to develop a comprehensive national sanitation strategy, insisting that lasting solutions will emerge through careful planning, firm leadership and sustained execution.

He called for a major policy shift in Ghana’s sanitation management, urging authorities to adopt a structured approach that combines funding, technical knowledge and long term planning. He argued that sanitation challenges require coordinated national strategies that move beyond short term activities and focus on sustainable systems.

Addressing the role of financing in improving waste management, Mr. Bentil highlighted the need for proper utilisation of resources allocated to sanitation initiatives. Mr Bentil indicated that funds generated through sanitation related measures should support carefully designed programmes capable of producing measurable results across communities.

The lawyer explained that Ghana’s sanitation situation requires a comprehensive framework built around engineering expertise and phased implementation. He added that successful waste management systems depend on consistent planning, institutional cooperation and clear responsibilities among stakeholders.

“We need a concerted, properly thought through solution. Multi year, phased, engineering based and knowledge backed approach to solving problems” Kofi Bentil indicated.

Furthermore, Mr Bentil argued that previous interventions have often focused on visible activities without addressing the structures required to maintain clean environments. According to him, sustainable sanitation depends on systems that manage waste from collection to final disposal.

The Imani Vice President also highlighted the importance of reviewing existing policies and ensuring that resources dedicated to sanitation deliver practical outcomes. He noted that Ghana has invested significant amounts in sanitation related programmes over the years, making it necessary to adopt strategies that protect those investments.

From his perspective, a national sanitation plan should bring together experts from different fields to develop solutions suitable for the country’s urban challenges. He suggested that engineers, environmental specialists and policymakers should work together to create a framework that can operate effectively across different regions.

Mr Bentil also pointed to the need for stronger institutional commitment in addressing sanitation difficulties. He explained that governments alone cannot solve the challenge without effective systems that encourage responsibility among public institutions, businesses and residents.