Using SEA principles to improve application of landfill guidelines in Ghana

The Ghana Landfill Guidelines was published in 2002. Since then a number of local government staff have received training on its application. Since the recommendation of by the National Development Planning Commission(NDPC) and the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) for the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) principles in formulation of policies, plans, programmes, tools have been developed for the water and environmental sanitation sector. An assessment of the Ghana Landfill Guidelines shows how SEA can be applied to critical stages of the landfill selection process. The central process-principle of SEA seeks to enhance broad stakeholder engagement, especially of non-specialists, improve transparent decision making and consensus building and thus add value to decision-making that enhances the likelihood of landfill development progressing to implementation. SEA further promotes community appreciation of issues concerning environmental quality and therefore demystifies the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment as an exercise carried out only by experts.