Partnerships and the Public Interest: Assessing the performance of public-private collaboration in solid waste collection in Accra

Solid waste management is no longer a (local) government monopoly but a domain open to various modes of public-private co-operation. This paper investigates the performances of public-private partnerships in solid waste collection (SWC) in Accra. Through a process of trial and error, the (local) government has gradually transferred this service to the private sector. The strengths and weaknesses of the new partnerships are tested using a set of criteria that reflect major public concerns. The analysis shows that privatisation has benefited consumers in terms of wider coverage, higher frequency and more reliable services, but that there are also a number of drawbacks--notably, worsened labour conditions, negative environmental impacts and a lack of financial sustainability. Several reasons are put forward to explain why the potentials of partnerships in SWC are not fully realised. A major problem is that the defence of the pubic interest continues to rely on the state whose commitment and capacity to act accordingly is disputable.