Papers by Martin Oteng-Ababio
Solid waste is one of the most discussed environmental issues, especially in urban centres where ... more Solid waste is one of the most discussed environmental issues, especially in urban centres where both public and private sectors are active participants in its management. This increased attention has been due to the continuous insanitary and health threatening conditions, in spite of governments' huge budgetary interventions. Meanwhile, for most urban poor, waste collection and recycling is a common means for eking out a living, yet this potential for improving solid waste management appears untapped by the authorities. Using mainly qualitative research techniques, this study examines the role of the informal sector and promotes dialogue on the potential of this sector in solid waste management. The findings show that the practice has become a survival strategy for thousands among the urban poor and that, the proper integration of the sector into the existing solid waste management policies can lead to sustainable management practices and possibly help alleviate poverty.
Landscape and Urban Planning
A key challenge associated with rapid urbanization in much of the developing world (including Gha... more A key challenge associated with rapid urbanization in much of the developing world (including Ghana) is the disposal of municipal solid waste. This has engendered numerous conflicts between municipal authorities and communities located near landfills. While these conflicts have attracted much media concerns in Ghana, not enough academic research has been carried out to unearth the root causes and consequences of these conflicts. More importantly, increased urbanization and concomitant growth of real estates in peri-urban areas of large Ghanaian cities such as Accra, have meant that landfills must compete with residential land use resulting in closer proximity of landfill sites to residential neighbourhoods. Thus, increasingly due to the intense competition for land the capacity of the peri-urban areas of large cities to absorb urban-generated waste is compromised. This paper attempts to bridge this knowledge gap by highlighting the issues of conflicts and governance using two peri-urban landfills in Accra as a case study. It argues that landfill-related conflicts are the result of the existing land ownership system and the consequent outcomes of poor spatial planning and management of metropolitan fringe areas. The study concludes that resolving landfill-related conflicts must start with tackling the land question which should then create a space for promoting forward planning involving the active participation of chiefs and community members. Again, studies on the acquisition, management and governance of landfills in the developed world could provide useful lessons for Ghana and other developing countries.
Landscape and Urban Planning
A key challenge associated with rapid urbanization in much of the developing world (including Gha... more A key challenge associated with rapid urbanization in much of the developing world (including Ghana) is the disposal of municipal solid waste. This has engendered numerous conflicts between municipal authorities and communities located near landfills. While these conflicts have attracted much media concerns in Ghana, not enough academic research has been carried out to unearth the root causes and consequences of these conflicts. More importantly, increased urbanization and concomitant growth of real estates in peri-urban areas of large Ghanaian cities such as Accra, have meant that landfills must compete with residential land use resulting in closer proximity of landfill sites to residential neighbourhoods. Thus, increasingly due to the intense competition for land the capacity of the peri-urban areas of large cities to absorb urban-generated waste is compromised. This paper attempts to bridge this knowledge gap by highlighting the issues of conflicts and governance using two peri-urban landfills in Accra as a case study. It argues that landfill-related conflicts are the result of the existing land ownership system and the consequent outcomes of poor spatial planning and management of metropolitan fringe areas. The study concludes that resolving landfill-related conflicts must start with tackling the land question which should then create a space for promoting forward planning involving the active participation of chiefs and community members. Again, studies on the acquisition, management and governance of landfills in the developed world could provide useful lessons for Ghana and other developing countries.
Geojournal
In recent years, solid waste management (SWM) policies and programmes have received lots of atten... more In recent years, solid waste management (SWM) policies and programmes have received lots of attention in the menu of most political leaders in developing countries. However, these concerns often focus on the efficiency criterion. Even that, efficiency is only narrowed down to the removal of waste from residential areas without much concern for either its safe disposal or its impact on the environment in case of improper waste disposal. There is little attention on reducing waste flows (through reuse, recycling and composting), or exploiting its economic value. The results of such blatant omission include threats to public health, environmental deterioration and lack of attention to waste as a resource. This study examines the key barriers to effective SWM practices in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and attests to the marginalization of waste treatment and disposal practices. It recommends that these missing links must be addressed through network service arrangements to ensure sustainable urban environment management.
Waste Management & Research, 2010
Solid waste management (SWM) is becoming a major issue in most cities where the provision of such... more Solid waste management (SWM) is becoming a major issue in most cities where the provision of such public service had hitherto been the sole responsibility of central government. However, the costs involved and the rate of waste generation have virtually forced city authorities to seek new arrangements with the private sector. This paper reviews public-private partnership (PPP) in SWM in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) and reveals that the policy worked well until one of the stakeholders failed to deliver. It maintains that harnessing the social support, acceptability and participation is key to sustainable PPP. The paper calls for institutional and private sector collaboration.
International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2012
This paper explores the perception of health and environmental concerns of workers and residents ... more This paper explores the perception of health and environmental concerns of workers and residents living close to e-waste recycling sites in Ghana using both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The social constructionist approach and a logit regression model were adopted to examine the rationale of their claims and concerns which have hitherto been unknown and unexplored. We find that workers’ environmental and health perceptions were seriously downplayed and do not match those of epidemiological studies, revealing a lack of convergence between lay and expert knowledge. This study further shows a respondent-specificity rationale; the perception of those directly involved in the processes was mainly influenced by economic considerations, while some at bestdisplayed “genuine” ignorance. We recommend that all policy interventions incorporate approaches that have a better chance of arriving at conclusions economically meaningful to participants and that facilitate greater understanding of health and environmental issues.
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Papers by Martin Oteng-Ababio