The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project has organized a capacity-building training workshop for Environmental Health and Physical Planning Officers on developing refuse maps. The initiative seeks to empower beneficiary municipal assemblies with the necessary knowledge and skills to leverage information technology for identifying waste hotspots and creating refuse maps to enhance solid waste management within their municipalities.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, the GARID Project Coordinator, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfoh, emphasized the importance of refuse mapping in achieving sustainable waste management. He noted, “This initiative will serve as a critical baseline to support municipal assemblies identify waste hotspots, and ensure sustainable solid waste management beyond the project’s lifespan.
The refuse mapping exercise aligns with the combined clean-up and behavior change campaign being undertaken by the municipal assemblies in collaboration with the GARID Project and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.
The training covered the application of essential digital data collection applications such as KoBoCollect, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. A key part of the training involved a field exercise, where participants applied their newly acquired skills to collect and analyze data using KoBoCollect. This hands-on practical session enabled them to map waste hotspots in real-time using the data collected.
The Solid Waste Management Specialist for the GARID Project, Henrietta Osei-Tutu, said the training will empower assemblies to enhance their waste management activities and contribute to creating cleaner, healthier communities. She said, “By empowering the Assemblies to identify, monitor, and regularly evacuate solid waste, the project aims to provide sustainable solutions to urban solid waste management challenges.
The GARID Project continues to support municipalities in implementing innovative and sustainable practices that will build the resilience of Accra.