Integrated Waste Management and Facility Siting in Ghana: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Hydrogeological and GIS Insights

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, population growth, and changing consumption patterns have intensified solid and liquid waste generation in Ghana, placing significant pressure on existing waste management systems. Despite established regulatory frameworks, persistent challenges such as open dumping, weak enforcement, limited source segregation, and inadequate rural service coverage continue to undermine environmental sustainability and public health. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of waste management practices and facility siting approaches in Ghana, guided by PRISMA and structured using the Population–Concept–Context framework. A total of 21,253 records were screened, with 33 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis and quantitative analysis using a random-effects model. The findings indicate a continuous increase in waste generation with no evidence of absolute reduction. Urban collection efficiency reaches up to 80% in some cities, whereas rural coverage remains critically low (approximately 5.8%), leading to widespread reliance on open burning and associated health risks. National segregation and recycling rates remain below 15%, despite the high diversion potential (approximately 90%) demonstrated by facilities such as the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant. GIS-based siting approaches show strong technical performance (accuracy approximately 77%, Kappa approximately 0.71), but their implementation is constrained by data limitations, governance challenges, and weak integration of localized hydrogeological information, particularly within the Volta and Pra basins. The study identifies a critical policy–practice gap driven by limited investment, unreliable data, and inadequate integration of Earth Science datasets. It concludes that sustainable waste governance requires integrated systems, mandatory segregation, hybrid siting approaches, improved data platforms, and stronger institutional enforcement.