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Union for informal waste workers launched in Accra
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The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), together with government and development partners, has launched Ghana’s national union for informal waste workers at the Wesley Towers Conference Room in Accra last Monday.
The event, themed “From informality to inclusion: Recognising informal waste workers as essential actors in Ghana’s circular economy,” brought together waste worker leaders from all 16 regions of Ghana alongside government officials, development partners, and private sector actors.
The launch marked the end of a five-year journey by GAYO to organise and mobilise waste pickers across the country, a process that began with a single waste picker cooperative and has grown into a nationwide movement recognising the environmental and economic contribution of informal waste workers.
The new union gives informal waste workers, many of whom recover recyclable materials, divert waste from landfill, and supply industries with secondary raw materials, a unified voice to engage government, municipalities, industry, and development partners for the first time.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, confirmed the union’s formation as a lawful exercise under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) and Ghana’s ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions on freedom of association.
Speaking on behalf of GAYO, Mr Richard Matey said the launch reflects years of organising and relationship-building. “Recognition requires organisation. Organisation requires representation. Representation requires partnerships. That understanding shaped the journey that has brought us here today,” he said, adding that inclusion for the sector was an ongoing process that will continue with legal recognition, municipal integration, and expanded market access.
Government and GAYO both described the launch as a starting point rather than an endpoint. Priorities going forward include strengthening the union’s institutional capacity, expanding partnerships with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), improving access to social protection and occupational health services, and integrating waste workers more fully into Ghana’s circular economy.
The initiative was supported by funding partners including the UMI Fund, The Earthshot Prize, Global Methane Hub, and the Clean Air Fund, alongside technical and institutional partners such as Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), the Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (Ghana NPAP), the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, People’s Dialogue, Impact Footprint Africa, IESS Legon, Green Growth Africa, Work First Mile, CONIWAS, and a wide network of government institutions, recycling companies, and civil society organisations.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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