Theatres of war on the ideal and real dumpsite siting practices in Accra, Ghana

Background The siting of waste disposal sites in urban areas in Ghana has become a significant issue due to the gap between the ideal and actual siting situations. This study examined the factors that affect the siting of disposal sites in ideal and real-world conditions and their implications for residents of Accra, Ghana. Methods An interpretive phenomenological design, anchored on 14 key informant interviews and 3 focused group discussions comprising 31 participants, was employed to source qualitative data from 45 participants in dumpsite-affected communities in Accra, Ghana. Interview sessions were facilitated with a semi-structured interview guide, and data were analyzed following the steps of thematic content analysis by Braun and Clarke. Results The analysis revealed five main themes: (1) lack of enforcement of landfill guidelines, (2) land availability and releasability, (3) distance of sites from residences, (4) compensation issues, and (5) land reclamation plans of assemblies. Residents living near dumpsites reported experiencing various health challenges such as malaria and respiratory infections, as well as being targeted by thieves, and perceived delayed community development, while at the same time, dumpsites were seen as "goldmines" that offered a means of livelihood to scavengers. Conclusion There is a significant difference between the ideal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria and actual practices when siting dumpsites. These discrepancies are mainly due to weak enforcement by local authorities, which requires strengthening of enforcement mechanisms and institutional capacity to bridge this gap for environmental sustainability in Ghana.