The Borla Taxi and Tricycle Association (BTTA) has sworn in its newly elected national executives at a ceremony held at the Omanye Hall of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), marking a new phase in the group’s leadership and operations.
The ceremony, held on Tuesday, February 3, brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Footprints Ghana, ESPA, the Ministry of Local Government, People’s Dialogue, and other stakeholders involved in sanitation and waste management.
Leaders of the association described the inauguration as a defining moment, signalling a renewed commitment to accountability, professionalism, and service to members and the broader community. The event also underscored the growing recognition of informal waste collectors as vital contributors to urban sanitation.
Executive Chairman of the BTTA Board, Godsway Asamani, said the swearing-in went beyond a formal ritual, describing it as a responsibility entrusted to the new leadership by both members and the nation. He commended the outgoing executives for strengthening the association’s credibility in sanitation advocacy and internal governance.
Mr Asamani noted that the new executives would focus on transparency, inclusivity, and strategic leadership, while institutionalising gender balance within the association. He added that the board intends to strengthen governance structures, expand partnerships with government and civil society, mobilise financial resources, and enhance media engagement to advance its advocacy.
Delivering welcome remarks, the Director of Waste Management at the AMA and Chairman of the ceremony, Victor Kortey, described the occasion as a milestone in the city’s collaboration with the informal waste sector. He recalled that early engagements were marked by tension but said the Assembly opted for cooperation by registering informal collectors and building their capacity through partnerships.
Mr. Kortey acknowledged the critical role informal waste collectors now play in service delivery and reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for the association. He stressed that strong internal governance would further improve waste collection efforts and support the city’s fight against poor sanitation.
In his acceptance speech, newly elected BTTA President, Johnbosco Avom Aduko, reflected on the association’s journey since its formation in 2014, recalling challenges including harassment from former contractors before members organised into a unified body.
He disclosed that informal waste workers currently account for an estimated 75% of waste collection in the Greater Accra Region, highlighting their importance to the national sanitation system. He urged the new executives to remain focused on improving the association’s image while contributing to environmental sustainability.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Mr. Aduko appealed to the government to address landfill challenges, noting that existing disposal sites around Tema and Kpone are far from operational areas. He called for the establishment of additional transfer stations to ease the burden on collectors and pledged the association’s commitment to combating improper waste disposal.
He added that the association’s operations now extend beyond Accra to cities such as Kumasi, Tarkwa, and Takoradi, positioning the BTTA as a key player in Ghana’s waste management landscape.
