Tema Summit Flags Urgent Sanitation, Pollution Risks as Leaders Demand Stronger Enforcement

By Samuel Asamoah 

Government officials, environmental regulators, traditional leaders and civil society organisations are warning that worsening sanitation conditions, industrial pollution and the rapid loss of green spaces pose serious risks to public health and sustainable development in Tema, Ghana’s leading industrial city.

The warnings were issued at the 2025 Environmental Summit organised by the Evart Foundation under the theme “Greening the Industrial City: Building a Cleaner and Healthier Tema.” The forum focused on concrete policy gaps, weak enforcement of environmental laws and the growing pressure urban expansion is placing on Tema’s infrastructure and ecosystems.

Keynote speaker, Hon. Lawyer James Enu, Member of Parliament for Tema West, delivered a blunt assessment of Tema’s environmental decline, blaming weak planning controls and commercial encroachment on public lands for the disappearance of parks and open spaces. He said Tema’s original urban design, which prioritised greenery and livable neighbourhoods, has been steadily eroded by unchecked development. Hon. Enu called for decisive policy action to restore parks, integrate green infrastructure into urban planning, invest in clean energy and low-carbon transport, and revive stalled discussions on waste-to-energy solutions to deal with the city’s increasing waste volumes. He stressed that household and school-level waste segregation must become mandatory rather than optional.

In a solidarity message delivered on behalf of the Member of Parliament for Tema East, Hon. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, the MP reaffirmed his support for stronger environmental governance, describing Tema’s sanitation challenges as a shared responsibility requiring coordinated action from government, industry and communities. He urged immediate steps to institutionalize environmental education through sustainability clubs in basic schools and more active involvement of Assembly Members in community-level enforcement and mobilisation.

The Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA) also outlined ongoing municipal interventions aimed at curbing sanitation abuses and restoring environmental order. Speaking for the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ludwig Teye Totimeh, the Deputy Director of Administration, Nancy Esi Koomson, said the Assembly has intensified routine public cleansing, removal of illegal dump sites and supervision of waste management contractors. She noted that sanitation by-laws are being enforced more strictly and announced plans for a municipality-wide tree-planting and beautification exercise to address declining green cover and improve climate resilience.

From the organisers’ side, the Evart Foundation said sustained public pressure and community engagement will be critical to reversing current trends. Board Member Rose-Vera Nsiah stated that the Foundation will continue to use advocacy, grassroots mobilisation and public education to confront poor sanitation practices.

She warned that infrastructure investments alone will not solve Tema’s sanitation crisis without behavioural change and consistent public accountability.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also raised concerns about compliance in Tema’s industrial zones. Senior Programme Officer Hambal Adam said enforcement of environmental laws remains uneven, despite the high environmental risks associated with industrial activity in the city. He cautioned industries against flouting regulations on waste treatment, emissions and effluent discharge, stressing that Tema’s status as an industrial hub demands higher compliance standards.

Adam called for closer collaboration between regulators, local authorities, civil society and communities to strengthen monitoring and reporting of environmental violations.

Participants at the summit, including traditional leaders, Assembly Members, environmental NGOs, private sector representatives and journalists, agreed that the cost of inaction is rising. They warned that failure to address sanitation and pollution challenges could undermine public health, economic productivity and investor confidence in the city.

The summit concluded with a call for stricter enforcement, clearer accountability and sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure that Tema’s industrial growth does not continue at the expense of environmental integrity and community well-being.