President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to transform the reclaimed Agbogbloshie landfill site in Accra into an industrial hub, with a major textile factory proposed as part of the redevelopment.
The announcement was made on Friday, September 18, 2026, during the commissioning of an exercise to evacuate the huge waste accumulation at Agbogbloshie.
According to the president, the redevelopment is intended to ensure that reclaimed landfill sites are put to productive use rather than remaining idle after the removal of waste.
The proposed industrial development at Agbogbloshie is expected to focus partly on job creation, particularly for young people.
Agbogbloshie waste evacuation begins.
The government’s plans follow the commencement of a major operation to clear waste from the Agbogbloshie site.
The evacuation exercise is expected to run for 90 days, with approximately one million tonnes of waste scheduled to be removed and transported to the Adepa Engineered Landfill near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The operation involves several state institutions, including the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Ghana Armed Forces and the District Road Improvement Programme.
Heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and tipper trucks, is being deployed to excavate, load and transport the waste.
The exercise is part of efforts by the government to address the longstanding sanitation and environmental challenges associated with the site.
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Textile factory planned for reclaimed land
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama said the land recovered from the waste site would be developed into an industrial park.
He said the government intends to establish a major textile factory there as part of efforts to create employment opportunities for young people.
The proposal would give the reclaimed site a new economic purpose, shifting it from a major waste accumulation area to a location for industrial activity.
The President also indicated that the Agbogbloshie redevelopment forms part of a wider government approach to reclaim landfill sites and convert them into productive economic spaces.
Government links sanitation to economic development.
The Agbogbloshie project combines environmental cleanup with plans for economic development.
Beyond removing the waste, the government says the broader objective is to reclaim land for productive activities while improving conditions for communities around the area.
The waste evacuation is expected to reduce the environmental and public health challenges associated with the accumulation of waste at the site.
The government has also said the evacuated waste will be transported to an engineered landfill where it will be properly disposed of, compacted and covered.
Officials have stressed the need for responsible handling of the waste throughout the process to protect residents, road users and communities along the transportation routes.
Night-time haulage planned
President Mahama also said major waste transportation operations would take place at night to reduce disruption and support the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Some waste evacuation will continue during the day, but larger-scale haulage is expected to be conducted at night.
The government has appealed to residents and other stakeholders in the Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama areas to cooperate with personnel involved in the 90-day exercise.
A new chapter for Agbogbloshie
Agbogbloshie has for years been associated with a large waste accumulation site and intense economic activity involving traders and workers.
The planned redevelopment represents a proposed change in the use of the reclaimed land, with the government now seeking to combine environmental restoration with industrial development.
The proposed textile factory would also align with the government’s broader interest in developing Ghana’s textile and garment manufacturing sector.
The 2026 national budget identified modern textiles and garment manufacturing as a strategic industry with potential for job creation and export growth. The budget also outlined plans to support three garment factories in other parts of Ghana in collaboration with private-sector partners.
However, the Agbogbloshie textile factory announced by the president is a proposal forming part of the planned redevelopment of the reclaimed site. Details on its financing, construction timeline, production capacity and prospective operators were not provided in the reports announcing the plan.
Government’s broader redevelopment agenda
The Agbogbloshie proposal comes amid other redevelopment discussions involving the area.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has also been consulting stakeholders over a proposed 24-Hour Market Project at Agbogbloshie, including discussions with traders, traditional leaders and transport representatives.
The various initiatives indicate that the area is being considered for significant redevelopment, although the specific projects, timelines and arrangements will need to be clarified as implementation progresses.
For now, the immediate focus remains the removal of the accumulated waste.
Once the 90-day evacuation exercise is completed, the government plans to use the reclaimed land for productive economic activity, including the proposed industrial park and textile factory.
The transformation, if implemented as announced, would mark a significant change in the planned use of the Agbogbloshie site from a major waste accumulation area to a proposed centre for industrial production and employment.
BigtimezGH.com will continue to follow developments surrounding the Agbogbloshie redevelopment, waste evacuation exercise and proposed industrial projects.
