News
Godfred Abayateye, expert in ‘human waste’ disposal
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
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for investigations into the recent Karnival Kingdom Festival over what it described as acts of public nudity and possible failures by state institutions.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 4, 2026, and signed by the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the bishops condemned activities that took place during the festival held from April 22 to 28, 2026.
The Conference described the event as an “eyesore” that undermined Ghanaian values and breached Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the bishops, the presence of police officers at the event raised serious concerns about official oversight and the role of state institutions in the matter.
They questioned why police protection was provided to participants alleged to have engaged in acts of public nudity.
The bishops also called for investigations into what they described as the importation of foreign cultural practices into the country.
The statement commended the Member of Parliament for John Ntim Fordjour for demanding accountability and investigations into the matter.
The Conference noted that although cultural exchange was important, foreign events and practices must respect Ghana’s laws and values.
It further urged authorities to conduct an impartial investigation without political interference and make the findings public.
Among its recommendations, the bishops called for a review of event permitting procedures, stricter public decency guidelines, and a national conversation on the limits of cultural expression in public spaces.
The Conference stressed that providing police protection for acts that allegedly violate the law represented a serious failure of official duty and called for stricter enforcement of the country’s laws.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has expressed concern over recent violent attacks against migrants from Commonwealth countries in some member states.
According to her, she was deeply saddened by reports of the attacks and extended sympathies to the families and loved ones of those affected.
According to her, recent incidents, especially those reported in South Africa, were worrying and could create tensions that may weaken the Commonwealth’s efforts toward resilience-building and shared prosperity among member countries.
Mrs. Botchwey said the Commonwealth was ready to work together with International Organization for Migration to provide technical assistance to member states in managing migration issues.
She explained that the partnership would also help countries build support for labour mobility, which she said was important for expanding economies and improving the lives of citizens across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General further called on citizens of all member countries to respect the law and uphold the rights of people living in their communities.
She stressed that civic responsibility was necessary for creating opportunities and improving living standards for the Commonwealth’s estimated 2.7 billion people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
