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Godfred Abayateye, expert in ‘human waste’ disposal
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Godfred Abayateye inspecting a truck after collecting human waste to ensure there is no spillage
One of the common questions people ask when they meet a new person is his profession.
Usually, when people have ‘prestigious’ jobs, they are quick to respond. They are usually the first to mention their professions in a conversation and then ask others about theirs.
For Godfred Abayateye, a toilet waste truck driver whose job basically entails collecting and disposing of human excreta, one could have imagined the discomfort with such a question. But, interestingly, he is not embarrassed at all about the job he does.
He said, the fact that his wife was very proud of him and appreciated him for his ability to shoulder their responsibilities as a husband and father that serves as a major source of motivation for him.
In an interview with The Spectator last week about his life and job, the resident of Ashaiman disclosed that he had been in the business of going to homes and premises of businesses to collect their waste for 12 years.
“There are no regrets for being someone who collects and disposes human waste of hundreds of people on daily basis.”
He said on a good day, he was able to serve four clients but when business goes slow, he struggles to get a single client. “In all honesty, I think it’s a good job which I’ll would recommend to anyone willing to join.”
Mr Abayateye who is in his 40s said he was in the business not just to make money but also keep the public clean.
He said although people disrespected them and liked to treat them without dignity, he was not perturbed.
He mentioned instances where clients even avoided talking to them when they went to their homes to offer their services because in their minds, the “toilet man” is not clean.
The father of four said some of their clients looked at them with contempt and would not even allow them to use their buckets to fetch water to help the process.
“These are the people who fails to appreciate that without us, their health can be compromised.”
In his view, persons in the waste business helped to curb open defecation, prevents diarrhoea and other health issues.
He said he was always happy to wake up to a new day of going round to take waste from people’s homes because he was able to give his children education and pay his bills to give his family a decent life.
He shared a joke about how some road users tried to avoid them on the road for fear of the collected waste spilling on them, the road or on their cars.
He said he tried ensuring that all the parts of the vehicle which could be used as a point of entry was well secured to prevent any air pollution or inconvenience to the public but reduce the danger to its barest minimum.
Mr Abayateye appealed to the government to prioritise sites for disposal of such waste to make the job more attractive and also keep the environment safe.
He also appealed on authorities to grant a subsidy on the cost of toilet waste trucks to attract more people into the profession to reduce the unemployment rate.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
Global Board Chairman of the International Youth Network for United Nations Security Council Resolution (IYNUNSCR)2250, Hopeson Yaovi Adorye, has called on young people across the world to take deliberate action in building peace, justice, and sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address at the IYNUNSCR2250 Global Youth Assembly held in Accra over the weekend, Mr. Adorye told the gathering of youth leaders that this generation stands at a “defining moment” in history.
He noted that while the world faces rising conflicts, violent extremism, climate pressures, cybercrime, and political polarization, young people are not just victims of these crises.
“The adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 marked a historic turning point by recognizing that young people are simply victims of conflict but indispensable partners in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, mediation, reconciliation, and post-conflict recovery,” he said.
He stressed that peace cannot be taken for granted.
“Peace must be intentionally built. Peace must be protected. Peace must be sustained. More importantly, peace must include everyone,” Mr.Adorye stated.
He defined true peace as more than the absence of war, it exists where justice prevails, human rights are respected, institutions are accountable, and women and youth participate fully in decision-making.
“Without justice, peace remains fragile. Without development, peace remains temporary. Without inclusion, peace remains incomplete,” he added.
Turning to Africa, Mr.Adorye described the continent’s youthful population as its “greatest strategic asset” and not a burden.
“When governments invest in education, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital skills, healthcare, and good governance, young people become drivers of economic growth and democratic stability,” he said.
He warned that the absence of these opportunities creates frustration and conditions that threaten peace and security.
According to him, “Investing in youth is investing in peace. Investing in education is investing in national security. Investing in jobs is investing in stability.”
The Global Board Chairman urged delegates to move beyond advocacy and become practical agents of change. He challenged them to reject corruption, political violence, hate speech, tribalism, and misinformation.
“Let us use social media to educate rather than inflame. To unite rather than divide. The digital world should become a platform for peace, innovation, and global cooperation,” he said.
He further tasked IYNUNSCR2250 members to mentor vulnerable youth, promote mediation, advocate for peaceful elections, support environmental protection, and empower women and girls.
He further added that “History will judge our generation not by the challenges we inherited but by the solutions we created,” Hon. Adorye concluded. “May our voices become voices of reconciliation. May our actions become instruments of peace.”
The Assembly, hosted under the leadership of IYNUNSCR2250 Global President Her Excellency Rev. Dr. Lilian Sally Addo, brought together youth leaders, members of the Global Advisory Board, and distinguished guests to advance the youth, peace, and security agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Two people have died and eight others sustained injuries following a road traffic accident at Dompoase, near Komenda on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway on Thursday, July 31, 2026.
According to a statement from the Ghana National Fire Service, Central Region, the Komenda Fire Station received a distress call at 18:55hrs. Rescue personnel arrived at the scene 15 minutes later at 19:10hrs.
On arrival, fire officers found one person trapped in a crashed Toyota Hiace with registration number AS 6145-24.
The rescue team worked to extricate the victim, but the person was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary information indicates that 10 people were on board the Hiace at the time of the crash. Apart from the two fatalities, eight others sustained various degrees of injury.
Three of the injured were said to be in severe condition.
Personnel from the National Ambulance Service transported all the injured to the Elmina Polyclinic for medical care.
An eyewitness at the scene told officials that the accident occurred when an unidentified vehicle traveling from Takoradi towards Cape Coast* attempted to overtake another vehicle.
In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the Toyota Hiace, which was traveling from Cape Coast towards Takoradi, swerved and crashed into a broken-down truck with registration number GN 2491-14 that was parked by the roadside.
The Central Regional Fire Command has advised drivers to exercise patience and extra caution on the highway, especially during overtaking and in areas where broken-down vehicles may be present.
“Such incidents can be prevented if road users obey traffic regulations and remain alert,” the statement said.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
