Appeals have been made to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to urgently intervene by directing the
national security agencies and the Chief of the Ngleshie Lafa Berima Stool, Nii Ayi Okufuobour I, to immediately rescind their decision to close the Mallam-Lafa landfill site to refuse collectors, popularly known as Aboboyaa drivers.
According to residents, the abrupt closure of the site without prior notice to the refuse collectors has created a health crisis in their communities.
The residents asserted that the collectors have nowhere to dump their waste, they park their heavily loaded tricycles along the roadsides and in front of residential homes, causing a terrible odour and posing serious health risks.
Residents are pleading with Nii Ayi Okufuobour I, as a traditional leader, to urge national security officials to reconsider their decision and allow the collectors to discharge their refuse.
The residents acknowledge that it was the Nii Lafa Berima Stool that actively supported the national security agencies in closing the site.
In fact, they note that the chief personally visited the area on Thursday, June 18, 2026, to witness how these overloaded trucks were creating a nuisance for the community, particularly on the shoulders of the Kasoa-Weija-Mallam Junction road.
However, the residents argue that the Aboboyaa drivers play a crucial role in maintaining environmental sanitation and hygiene across the country.
They pointed out that Zoomlion Ghana Limited alone cannot handle the refuse collection needs of all residents in Accra.
They are hopeful that national leaders will help these private operators sustain their businesses to improve the city’s overall sanitation.
The residents appealed to Mr. John Dramani Mahama, stating, “Mr. President, please, we are appealing to you to tell the national security agencies and the Chief of the Lafa Berima Stool to allow the refuse collectors to use the landfill site again.”
Furthermore, the residents warned that if the land at Mallam-Lafa is not designated as a refuse dumpsite, private developers will fill that stretch of land and build houses.
They raised an alarm that this could block access roads and waterways, causing severe flooding in the catchment areas.
They complained that portions of the land are being sold indiscriminately, and if the entire area is sold, prospective buyers will build structures that block access routes.
The residents also denied widespread media reports claiming that floodwaters from the area overflow into the Weija Lake.
They clarified that the Mallam-Lafa landfill site is far from the Weija Lake and that runoff flows toward seashore areas, including Dansoman, Aplaku, and Tettegu.
The residents explained that when the Lafa Stream floods, the water passes through gutters and drains into these coastal areas and does not enter the Weija Lake.
They added that it is actually the people currently filling the land for the landfill site who have blocked the access gutters, which prevents floodwaters from the Lafa Stream from passing through and causes havoc during heavy downpours in Accra.
Aboboyaa Riders Stranded In Accra
Saddle the unannounced closure of the dumpsite near the Akawie Hospital in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality has left thousands of ‘Aboboyaa’ (refuse tricycle) riders stranded.
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the national security officials temporarily shut down the Lafa Berima unauthorized dumping site to curb the environmental and public health hazards.
This abrupt closure left thousands of Aboboyaa operators stranded, creating a massive traffic jam that stretched from the Ga Municipal Assembly Hospital to the Mallam Junction main bus stop.
Driver Frustrations
The President of Aboboyaa Drivers Association in Accra Mr Abibulai Abdulai expressed frustration over the sudden closure, noting that many operators had traveled from distant areas like Madina, Adenta, Kasoa, Osu, and Dansoman, only to find the site shut down without prior notice.
The drivers warned that if authorities do not provide an alternative dumping location, they might take matters into their own hands.
“We came here to dispose of our refuse at the dumping site between 6:30 am and 7:00 am, but the facility was closed,” the operators told journalists.
They emphasized our urgent plea for Nii Lafa to speak with the National Security operatives, requesting them to unlock the site for our waste disposal. Furthermore, we are looking into securing an alternative dumping ground for the future.