The Tricycle Operators' Association of Ghana has announced plans to stage a nationwide demonstration over the lack of designated waste disposal sites and the recent closure of the Tambourine dumpsite at McCarthy Hill, Weija.

National Security authorities closed the Tambourine dumpsite about a week ago, citing concerns that congestion caused by tricycles was disrupting traffic in the area.

The closure has significantly affected tricycle operators engaged in waste collection services across the capital.

Speaking in an interview, the President of the Tricycle Operators' Association of Ghana, Mr Kwame Frimpong, said members are facing serious operational challenges following the closure of the McCarthy Hill facility.

He explained that operators are no longer able to access disposal sites to offload waste collected from customers, adding that the shortage of adequate dumping sites in Accra and its surrounding communities has severely disrupted their operations.

Mr Frimpong appealed to the government to support Zoomlion in making the Mallam disposal site operational or, alternatively, to temporarily reopen the McCarthy Hill dumpsite for waste disposal.

He warned that if the situation is not addressed, refuse could accumulate across communities, creating a potential public health risk.

During a media visit to the Tambourine dumpsite, journalists observed a team carrying out fumigation at the site.

Speaking to the media, the team leader, Nii Ayi, rejected claims that tricycle operators were responsible for traffic congestion on the Mallam Highway.

He argued that the persistent traffic congestion is caused by the poor condition of the road and urged the authorities to repair the numerous potholes around the Mallam Junction.