The Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the Green Africa Youth Organization, Osei Tutu Aggrey Sampson, has reiterated the group’s commitment to supporting local assemblies in improving waste management across the region.

Speaking during a clean-up and assessment exercise in Kumasi, he explained that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to identify the root causes of waste accumulation.

According to him, the exercise, which covered the stretch from Airport Roundabout to Manhyia Palace, includes both waste assessment and brand audits aimed at analysing the types of waste generated in the area.

He noted that while regular clean-up exercises are conducted within the constituency, little attention has been given to understanding the sources of waste.

"Today, we are undertaking detailed analysis to determine the specific items contributing to waste problems in the Ashanti Region. This will help assemblies make informed decisions and engage appropriate waste management companies," he said.

The initiative was being carried out in partnership with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly as part of the government-backed national sanitation exercise held on weekends.

Mr Sampson also advised residents to avoid practices such as disposing of water around their environment, warning that it could lead to serious health hazards. He added that waste, if properly managed, can be transformed into a source of income.

However, the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, highlighted persistent flooding challenges around the Airport Roundabout area.

He revealed that investigations showed that clogged gutters filled with waste were the primary cause of flooding whenever it rains.

"We are here to clear the gutters so that water can flow freely, he stated, emphasizing that waste does not end up in drains by itself but is a result of human actions."

He criticised the habit of dumping refuse into gutters with the expectation that rainwater would wash it away.

The Mayor further lamented the high cost of waste management in the metropolis, stressing that such funds could otherwise be used to improve roads, infrastructure, and other development projects in the Ashanti Region.