International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

OPEN ACCESS
International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research
P-ISSN: 2664-3588, E-ISSN:2664-3596
Volume 2, Issue 4, P.No. 273-290, August, 2020
Fair East Publishers
Journal Homepage: www.fepbl.com/index.php/ijmer

WASTE DISPOSAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN

SELECTED SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WITHIN THE WA
MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA
Justice Agyei Ampofo1,2
1
University for Development Studies, Tamale (Ghana)
2
University of Education, Winneba (Ghana))
__________________________________________________________________________
*Corresponding Author: Justice Agyei Ampofo
Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]
Article Received: 04-08-20 Accepted: 22-08-20 Published: 05-09-20

Licensing Details: Author retains the right of this article. The article is distributed under the terms of
the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License
(http://www.creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use,
reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is
attributed as specified on the Journal open access page.
___________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Waste disposal management is an issue of concern among stakeholders responsible for waste
management. The purpose of this study was to examine waste disposal management practices
in three selected Senior High Schools (SHS) within the Wa Municipality of the Upper West
Region of Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method explanatory sequential approach with
both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. The tools used to capture the
required data includes; questionnaires, interview schedules and observation. The study
respondents were students, teachers and school management of selected Senior High Schools
within the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study respondents were
one hundred and twenty-two (122) respondents comprising 45 students, 45 teachers, 30 school
management officials,1 education officer and 1 waste management officer. The study found
out that different kind of solid wastes are generated in Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study found out that the commonest
types of solid waste generated in these schools were food waste, rubbish, and ashes. Again, it
was found out that waste is been disposed off in open spaces in Senior High Schools within
the Wa Municipality. The study further revealed that, students, teachers and school
management are worried about the waste disposal situation in senior high schools within the
Wa Municipality. It also emerged from the study that there are no proper waste dump sites in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The study also found out that waste is being
thrown away without separation in senior high schools within the Wa Municipality. It also
emerged from the study that waste management practices are very important to students.
Based on the findings of the study, the study recommends the provision of adequate dustbins

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 International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The study further recommends regular
collection of waste in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality by the institutions
responsible. At least, waste should be collected once in every week in Senior High Schools
within the Wa Municipality. The study further recommends regular monitoring of waste
collection by the Wa Municipal Assembly. This will keep the place constantly clean and
prevent any possible outbreak of communicable diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Keywords: Waste Disposal Management Practices, Senior High Schools, Wa Municipality,
Ghana.
___________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION
The relationship of humans to the environment is reciprocal, in that, the environment has
profound influence on humans and at the same time, humans extensively alter the
environment to suit their needs and desires. Some of these changes created new hazards
(Wilson, 2007). The attitudes of humans towards the environment are still negative and are
contrary to the concept of sustainable development, which recognizes that economic growth
and environmental protection are inextricably linked and that the quality of present and future
life rests on meeting basic human needs without destroying the environment on which all life
depends (Gamble, 2012).
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recognize the fact that environmental
sustainability is part of global economic and social well-being. However, achieving the fourth
goal (reducing child mortality), the fifth goal (improving maternal health) and part of the sixth
goal (to halt and begin to reverse by 2015, the incidents of malaria and other major diseases),
of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) largely depends on the country’s efforts to
ensure a clean and healthy environment (Kumah, 2007; Post, 2012; Owusu, 2015).
Maintaining a sound and healthy school environment has always been a challenge to man
(Owusu, 2015). The problem under investigation in this study is the poor waste disposal
management practices in senior high schools found in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West
Region of Ghana. Poor waste disposal management practices in Senior High Schools continue
to be a major challenge to school management throughout the world particularly in the rapidly
growing cities of the developing countries like Ghana. As the population of student’s
increases and demand for goods and services augments persistently, it necessitates the
production of goods and services by firms and industries to meet the demands of the teeming
population (Kumah, 2007; Yurttas, 2010).
Despite the efforts that have been directed towards addressing the issue of poor waste
management practices in Senior High Schools in Ghana through the Ministry of Education
encouraging and providing guidelines for sanitation in schools, little is known about
promoting environmental sanitation through environmental education in the Ghanaian Senior
High Schools. Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality, everywhere is littered with
filtered water sachets, pieces of paper and broken furniture. In the dormitories, there are
problems of littering, exposure to used sanitary pads, students urinating around the
dormitories, students defecating in polythene bags normally referred to as ‘fly away’. All of
these can affect the health of the students in the dormitories.

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Poor institutional framework and low capacities as well as lack of resources; both human and
capital have put waste management and sanitation conditions in many schools of the
developing World, particularly in Africa, in a very deplorable state (Owusu et al., 2014). Poor
waste management practices in Senior High Schools in the Wa Municipality are not different
from other towns and cities in Ghana. According to the UN Habitat (2010), while decision-
makers in most developing countries (including sub-Saharan Africa) recognize the need to put
up proper waste management policies, achieving this has been difficult in practice.
Though, a lot have been studied about the health, financial, social, economic and
environmental implication emanating from poor waste management practices in schools
(Boateng, 2006). There is lack of information on waste management practices or waste
disposal management in selected Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality of the
Upper West Region of Ghana and such remains a knowledge gap and a problem that needs an
attention. On the basis of the above problems, there is therefore the need for the researcher to
examine waste disposal management practices in three selected Senior High Schools within
the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to:
1. Determine the awareness, knowledge and practices of waste disposal management in
selected Senior High Schools (SHS) within the Wa Municipality of the Upper West
Region of Ghana.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Definition of Concepts
Waste
As noted by Miller (2004), the term ‘waste’ is frequently left as an undefined primitive in
spite of its critical importance” and “frequently, a list of types of waste is substituted for the
underlying definition.” Bello (2009), also describes waste as “unwanted or unusable materials
that emanate from numerous sources from industry and agriculture as well as businesses and
households and can be liquid, solid or gaseous in nature and hazardous or non-hazardous
depending on its location and concentration.” Drawing from the views expressed above, the
definition of waste as used in this study is any substance (liquid, solid, gaseous or even
radioactive) that is discarded into school environment because it is unwanted, which causes
significant nuisance or adverse impact on social, economic, financial, environmental and
academic. For the purpose of this study, more emphasis would be placed on solid waste.
Solid Waste
Solid waste can be defined as non-liquid and non-gaseous products of human activities,
regarded as being useless. It could take the form of refuse, garbage and sludge, (Parker, 2003).
To add to this, solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials generated from schools
in a given area. Waste is burnt in pits, dumped in random locations, or disposed of in
uncontrolled dumps without and further management. According to Post (2012), solid waste is
any material that is solid and discarded as unwanted dumped in refuse disposal site. Solid
wastes are materials with less liquid content, characterized by a reactive and unstable nature
when exposed to heat. Some of these include acids or bases that can corrode metal containers,
(Owusu, 2015).
Some solid wastes are toxic and harmful when ingested or absorbed. Some can also cause fire
outbreaks and explosion when found under certain conditions, (Akpen, 2005). Solid waste is
an unavoidable consequence of the consumption and production activities of a society. Proper

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management of waste is becoming a very difficult challenge in schools all over the world
(Adewusi, 2016). The rapid population growth and income growth has led to changes in the
lifestyle of people, thereby changing the composition of solid waste generated in schools
(GSS, 2012).
Waste Disposal Management Practices
Waste disposal is the ultimate fate of all solid wastes collected and transported directly to
landfill site. Waste Disposal is one of the several methods of solid waste management that
have evolved over the years (Gyebi, 2010). According to Gyebi (2010), the most commonly
recognized methods for the final disposal of solid wastes were:
• dumping on land, canyons and mining pits (open land)
• dumping in water
• ploughing into the soil
• feeding to hogs
• reduction and incineration.
Some of these unwholesome practices of solid waste identified during the early disposal
practices still exist in Senior High Schools in Ghana. Poor disposal of waste on opened land in
schools are clearly evident. Burning of dumps is also common in schools in Ghana and in
many other less developed countries. A study carried out by Martin (2011), showed that, the
methods of solid waste disposal include dumping of waste in unregulated areas or
unauthorized dumping sites and burning of wastes on unapproved dumping sites. This has
gone to confirm that the practices of solid waste disposal in the 1950s still exist today and the
study area is not an exception.
Waste Management Awareness, Knowledge and Practices in Senior High Schools
The past two decades have witnessed a number of studies throughout the world that were
conducted on combinations of the awareness, knowledge and practices of schools with regards
to waste management (Boadi, 2004; Tsiboe, 2004, Mensah, 2005; Post, 2012). Little studies
could however, be found in international and Ghanaian literature where the combination of
awareness, knowledge and practices of schools with regards to waste management was
studied. The following sub-sections will discuss the literature found in each of the aspects;
awareness, knowledge and practice and the relation to waste management.
Awareness and Waste Management
Awareness is the state or ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects, or
sensory patterns. In this level of consciousness, sense data can be confirmed by an observer
without necessarily implying an understanding (Gebril, 2010; Gyebi, 2010). Education and
awareness are often crucial and a key part of any country’s waste management strategy. A
number of studies propose that environmental education is an integral part of raising
environmental awareness in people and that people should be educated in a way that would
raise their environmental awareness and improve their knowledge so that they could make
informed and responsible decisions as adults (Agyei, 2009; UN-Habitat, 2010; Zahari, 2017).
From International scholarly literature, there is strong evidence which suggests that awareness
and attitudes toward waste generation and management are critical to support the human
race’s endeavor to address poor waste disposal management practices. Literature on the
environmental awareness of students, teachers and school management in Senior High

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Schools, is not abundant in the case of Ghana studies. Literature is limited to knowledge and
education studies as was done by Martin (2011).
Knowledge and Waste Management
Knowledge with regards to a specific subject is intimately linked to some form of education in
that subject. Education has been recognized to possess the capability to meet these challenges
through promoting awareness and knowledge on various environmental issues, changing the
attitudes of people, generating critical thinking, actions and working towards achieving
sustainable development. Education should also aim to increase public awareness about poor
waste disposal management implications and their solutions (Parker, 2003) by providing
required skills and knowledge (Miller, 2004).
However, attitude cannot be changed by simple education. Seo (2006) stated that, “acceptance
of new attitude depends on who is presenting the knowledge, how it is presented, how the
person is perceived, the credibility of the communicator, and the conditions by which the
knowledge was received.” Research in social sciences has also shown that knowledge on a
selected topic may increase; where people may even change attitudes, but that the step to
improved behaviours and practice depends on a complex set of social and psychological
factors (Misra & Pandey, 2005; Simon, 2014).
Martin (2011) reported that, people‘s environmental knowledge is highly specific to issue and
geographic scale and this was supported through research done by PAR (2011). Parker (2003)
asserts that one of the reasons for poor decision making in environmental issues is the lack of
basic environmental knowledge. Knowledge can therefore be seen as a critical component
when determining peoples understanding of environmental issues and therefore,
environmental awareness that leads to practice.
Practice and Waste Management
Practice is the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories
about such application or use (Oxford Dictionary, 2013). In an ideal world, all people on earth
should demonstrate high levels of good practices and responsibility regarding environmental
matters including waste management. This literature highlighted the awareness and
knowledge on poor waste management practices but the critical steps to improve behaviour
and practice are dependent on a complex set of social and psychological factors.
It is however, imperative to translate all knowledge, awareness and attitude into practice
because, without effective practice actual results will not materialize in the solving of
complex and integrated problems such as poor disposal of waste (Gebril, et al, 2010).
Therefore, there must be a constant drive to encourage and promote awareness through
education towards effective waste management and sustainable environmental practices.
Studies have shown that students, teachers and school management in Ghana in general have
poor waste management practices. A number of papers have investigated the link between
poor waste management practice and aspects such as awareness, attitude and knowledge
(Gebril, 2010; Owusu, 2014).
In most cases, these studies found direct correlations between poor waste management
practices and a lack of environmental knowledge and awareness. If word is not put to deed all
research efforts will be pointless and poor waste management practices will be a consistent
problem of the future human race. This focused approach to turn philosophy from
environmental studies into good practice towards sustainable development is also critical for

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Ghana. However, to enable this focused approach, the significant gap in lack of research
studies on the understanding of Senior High Schools students, teachers, and school
management awareness, knowledge and practice of waste management in Ghana will have to
be closed.
METHODOLOGY
Research Method
A concurrent mixed method approach was adopted for this study, involving both qualitative
and quantitative data collection methods. Quantitative data was collected using
questionnaires. These tools captured the required data on awareness, knowledge and practices
of waste disposal management in Senior High Schools (SHS) within the Wa Municipality of
the Upper West Region of Ghana. Qualitative data was captured using Key Informants
Interview (KII) guides with key stakeholders at the Municipal Department of Waste
Management Office, Environmental Protection Agency and Director of Education at Wa
Municipality. Mixed method approaches were used for this study because it can answer a
broader and more complete range of research questions because the researcher is not confined
to a single method or approach (Creswell, 2013; Ampofo, 2019).
Research Design
In this study the researcher used a mixed method explanatory sequential design, with both
qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, but the quantitative data is more than
the qualitative. Explanatory sequential design involves the procedure of first collecting
quantitative data and then collecting qualitative data to help explain or elaborate the
quantitative results (Creswell, 2013). The rationale for this approach is that, the quantitative
data and results provide a general picture of the research problem, more analysis, specifically
through qualitative data collection, is needed to refine, extend or explain the general picture
(Ampofo, 2019).
Importantly, explanatory sequential design does not make causal inferences, but rather
describes the distributions of variables for large groups (Creswell, 2013; Ampofo, Amoah &
Peprah, 2020). Ampofo (2020) posited that survey research involves collecting data to answer
questions concerning the phenomenon under study, and is used to describe the nature of
existing conditions, identify standards against which existing conditions can be compared,
and/or investigate the relationships that may exist between events. Creswell (2013) posited
that explanatory sequential design may use both questionnaires and interviews to gather
information from groups of respondents about their opinions of some issue.
The Study Area
The study was conducted in three selected public Senior High Schools namely Wa Senior
High Technical School, Wa Senior High School and Wa Technical Institute all within the Wa
Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A preliminary survey by the researcher in
the above three selected public schools, show that waste generation is very high in these
schools, as such, this has been an issue of concern among the various stakeholders. The
researcher’s work experience as a teacher has helped me gain access to the information
needed for the successful completion of this study. The schools are within my locality, (Wa
Municipal), hence reducing the cost as well as risk involved in travelling. This made the data
collection process easy and convenient.

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Population
The target population consisted of all the students, teachers and school management in the
selected three Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The study population also
included the Wa Municipal Assembly officer in charge of Waste Management, some
personnel of the Environmental Protection Agency and Wa Municipal Education Director.
The students, teachers and school management were the target group because, they are in the
schools and as such the implications of poor waste management practices comes to them
direct hence they were more likely to have knowledge about the implications of poor waste
management practices. Table 1 shows students population distribution for three schools.
Table 1
Target Student Population Distribution for 2017
STUDENTS POULATION
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL FORM 2 FORM 3 TOTAL
1. Wa Senior High Technical School 600 540 1140
2. Wa Senior High School 560 480 1040
3. Wa Technical Institute 520 560 1080
TOTAL 1680 1580 3260
Source: Field Survey (2018)
Table 2 shows teachers population distribution for the three schools.

Table 2
Teacher Population Distribution for the three Schools in 2017
TEACHERS POPULATION
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE MALE TOTAL
1. Wa Senior High Technical School 14 76 90
2. Wa Senior High School 16 70 86
3. Wa Technical Institute 20 75 95
TOTAL 50 221 271
Source: Field Survey (2018)

Table 3 shows the distribution of school management/staff population for the three schools.

Table 3
Distribution of Population of the three Schools’ Management for 2017
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT POPULATION
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE MALE TOTAL
1. Wa Senior High Technical School 7 6 13
2. Wa Senior High School 5 6 11
3. Wa Technical Institute 9 5 14
TOTAL 21 17 38
Source: Field Survey (2018)

The teachers have a total population of 271, students have a population of 3260 and school
management has a population of 38, 1 Municipal Education Officer and 1 Municipal Waste
Management Officer. Therefore the total population of this study was 3571. This group of
population was selected because, they could provide useful information concerning the study.
Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
Ampofo (2020) explains that, ‘it is imperative for you to determine an aspect of population to
be involved in your study.’ A study may entail a large population unlike others with small
population. In such situation, a portion of the entire population may be selected for study and

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this is what is termed as sample. In selecting sample for the study, the researcher made use of
simple random sampling technique in selecting all the respondents.
Simple random sampling means that each member of the sampling population has an equal
chance of being selected. It called for a sufficiently large sample to ensure that the sample
reflect the population (Creswell, 2013). In all one hundred and twenty (122) respondents were
selected for the study comprising 45 students, 45 teachers and 30 school management
officials. Also, 1 education officer and 1 waste management officer were also interviewed.
This sample size was chosen for the researcher to be able to manage them.
Instrumentation
Questionnaire and interview guide were used for this study. A questionnaire is a research
instrument consisting of series of questions for the purpose of a survey or statistical study.
The structured questionnaire type was used. Ampofo, Nassè, Amoah & Peprah (2020)
explains that a structured questionnaire is a data collection instrument which contains
predetermined standard questions or items meant to collect numerical data that can be subject
to statistical analyses.
The questionnaire was both close ended and open ended questions with options like (Strongly
Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree and Uncertain). It was divided into two sections
which are as follows: Section A, deals with personal data and demographic information of the
respondents and Section B, provides questions on the awareness, knowledge and practices of
waste disposal management in selected Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality of
the Upper West Region of Ghana. Questionnaires required less time and money compared to
other methods like focus group discussions (Ampofo, 2020). On the whole, the respondents
responded to thirty (30) questions which were Likert-scale type. However, there were few
open ended questions and interviews which allowed participants to share their views that were
not captured. This was to combat the negative side of the structured questionnaire.
Pretesting of the Instrument
A pilot study was conducted in Wa Islamic Senior High School in the Wa Municipality of the
Upper West Region of Ghana which has the same socio- demographic as that of Wa Senior
High Technical School, Wa Senior High School and Wa Technical Institute. The pilot study
was done to improve the reliability of the instrument. Changes were made to questions
deemed inappropriate after the pilot study.
Validity of the Instruments
A research instrument is said to be valid when it measures what it is supposed to measure.
Face validity is in relation to the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the question. This
was checked by way of employing pretesting method. Content validity on the other hand,
refers to the capacity of the instrument to prove adequate coverage of a topic. Adequate
preparation of the instrument under the guidance of an expert opinion and pre-testing of the
question helped establish the content validity.
Reliability of the Study
Reliability has to do with an instrument consistently producing the same result every time it is
used. The test retest method was used to test for the reliability of the instrument. The
questionnaires were administered to students and teachers of Wa Islamic Senior High School
in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana which has the same socio-

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demographic as that of teachers, students and management of the selected three Senior High
Schools. The same questionnaires were administered to them after two weeks.
Data Collection Procedure
The researcher obtained permission from the heads of the selected SHS within the Wa
Municipality to seek their approval and access to the school. The participants were told of the
purpose, time, venue and how to answer the questionnaires. They were also assured of their
confidentiality and anonymity. The researcher self-administered the questionnaires personally
in order to clearly issues to the participants. On the whole the researcher spent two week for
the collection of the data. All respondents responded to the questionnaire.
Data Analysis Techniques
The data gathered by the above instrument were first coded, categorized and then analyzed
using SPSS (version 20). The data analyses include generating the frequencies and
percentages upon which the interpretations were made. Frequency counts and percentage were
applied to items in section ‘A’ of the questionnaire which include respondents’ demographic
information like gender and years of experience. The use of descriptive statistics, notably
frequency and percentage were used to analyze the data that was collected from the field on
the impacts of poor waste disposal management practices on Senior High Schools within the
Wa Municipality. Analysis is applied to see the relationships of students, teachers and school
management views as well as the relationship of these scales.
The process of data analysis was done with reference to research objectives. Also, the
descriptive analysis was appropriate for this study because it involved the description,
analysis and interpretation of circumstances prevailing at the time of study. The use of basic
statistical techniques especially the used of frequencies and percentages easily communicate
the research findings to majority of readers, (Creswell, 2013). Frequencies easily show the
number of subjects in a given category. A number of tables and charts were used to present
data findings.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Demographic Analysis of Respondents
The initial aspect of the data analysis focuses on a summary statistics of the respondents. As
explained earlier in the chapter three, the study captured the views of students, teachers and
school management of the three selected public Senior High Schools in the Wa Municipality
concerning waste disposal management practices. The descriptive analysis therefore
implemented on the three classes of respondents. Tables 4 and 5 give a report of the summary
statistics of the sampled respondents. It offers demographic information about the
respondents’ gender, their position, age, experience and highest level of education. Majority
of the students who responded to the survey instrument were males (55.56% representing 25
out of the total of 45 students). It is also detected that most of the sampled students (44.44%)
are between the ages of 19 - 23years. Meanwhile, the researcher mostly concentrated on all
the students (SHS 1, SHS 2 and SHS 3) who were equally represented (33.33%) respectively
each as all this group was assumed to possess enough information concerning the implications
of poor waste disposal management practices on Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana.

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Table 4
Demographic Characteristics of Sampled Students
Details Frequency Percent
Gender Male 25 55.56
Female 20 44.44
Total 45 100
Age 14-18 15 33.33
19-23 20 44.44
24-28 10 22.22
Total 45 100
Class SHS1 15 33.33
SHS2 15 33.33
SHS3 15 33.33
Total 45 100
Source: Field Survey (2018)
Aside the student population, the study also focused on sampling the responses of both
teachers and school management. Majority of the teachers and school management/staff are
males (66.67% for teachers; and 66.67% for management). It is also revealed that averagely
most of the teachers and management staff are 30 years and above with a first degree
educational qualification. More than 80% of the teachers and more than 65% of the
management staff were also identified to have served their school for more than 5 years.
Table 5
Demographic Characteristics of Sampled Teachers and Management
Teachers Management
Details Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
Male 30 66.67 20 66.67
Gender Female 15 33.33 10 33.33
Total 45 100 30 100
24-29 5 11.11 0 0
30-35 15 33.33 5 16.67
Age
36-40 10 22.22 10 33.33
41-45 15 33.33 15 50.0
Total 45 100 30 100
Masters 10 22.22 5 16.67
Professional 0 0 5 16.67
Educational Level
First Degree 30 66.67 10 33.33
HND 5 11.11 10 33.33
Total 45 100 30 100
4yrs - 5yrs 5 11,11 10 33.33
Experience 5+ 40 88.89 20 66.67
Total 45 100 30 100
Source: Field Survey (2018)
The main research question sought to determine the awareness, knowledge and practices of
waste disposal management in the three selected Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The responses are presented below.
One aspect of the questionnaire gathered data from respondents on the types of waste been
generated in SHS within the Wa Municipality and all the respondents expressed that different

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kind of solid wastes are generated in senior high schools in the Wa Municipality. According
to the students, teachers and school management, the commonest types of waste generated in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality were food waste, rubbish, and ashes.
One aspect of the questionnaire also gathered data from respondents on where they dump
waste in senior high schools within the Wa Municipality and the responses are presented
below.

Place of Waste Disposal

16.67

83.33%

Yes No

Figure 1: Disposal of Solid Waste in Senior High Schools within Wa Municipality

Source: Field Survey (2018)

From Figure 1, majority of the respondents 100 out of 120 representing 83.33% indicated that
waste is been disposed off in open spaces in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality,
followed by 10 out of 120 representing 8.33% indicated that waste is been disposed off in
dustbin in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality whiles 5 out of 120 representing
4.17% respectively each indicated that waste is disposed off in dump site and gutters in these
schools within the Wa Municipality. The implication of this result means that waste is
disposed off in open spaces in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality,
This resulted in littering and heaping of waste thereby making the environment filthy.
Therefore, the possibility of outbreak of cholera and other environmental related diseases is
high if such practice continues. This result is consistent with a study by Gyebi (2010) who
posited that open dumping remains the simplest and the most commonly used method for
disposing solid waste in Senior High Schools in Ghana. The author furthered added that in
most low to medium income developing nations like Ghana, almost 100% of generated waste
goes to open dumps.
A study carried out by Martin (2011) showed that, the methods of solid waste disposal include
dumping of waste in unregulated areas or unauthorized dumping sites and burning of wastes
on unapproved dumping sites. This has gone to confirm that the practices of solid waste
disposal in the 1950s still exist today and study area is not an exception. This is why Mensah
(2012) postulated that while wastes are deposited in open dumps in most of these schools in
developing nations.
The study also sought to enquire from respondents on how they are worried about waste
disposal in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality and this is presented in Figure 2.

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Waste Disposal in senior high schools

Yes No
6%

88%

Figure 2: How Respondents are Worried about Waste Disposal Situation in Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality
Source: Field Survey (2018)
Results from Figure 2 shows that majority of the respondents 115 out of 120 representing
96.0% indicated that, they are very worried about the waste disposal situation in Senior High
Schools within the Wa Municipality, followed by 5 out of 120 representing 4.0% who
indicated that they are slightly worried about the waste disposal situation in Senior High
Schools within the Wa Municipality. The implication of this result means that waste disposal
is a serious issue in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality.
The study also gathered data from respondents on waste dump sites in Senior High Schools
within the Wa Municipality and this is presented in table 6
Table 6
Waste Dump Site in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality
Items Frequency Percentage
There are a number of proper waste dump site 10 8.33%
There are no proper waste dump site 90 75.0%
There are dump site but not properly constructed 20 16.67%
Total 120 100%
Source: Field Survey (2018)
Results from Table 6, shows that majority of the respondents 90 out of 120 representing 75%
indicated that there are no proper waste dump site in Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality, followed by 20 out of the 120 respondents representing 16.67% who indicated
that there are dump sites but not properly constructed in Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality whiles 10 out of the 120 respondents representing 8.33% who indicated that
there are a number of proper waste dump sites. The implication of this result means that there
are no proper ways of disposal waste in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality.
This is graphically shown in plate 1, 2 and 3 below.

Bad Disposal of waste Good Disposal of waste

24/05/18 Plate 1: Waste Disposal in Wa Senior High Technical School
Source: Field Survey (2018)

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 International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

Bad Waste Disposal Good Waste Disposal

24/05/18 Plate 2: Waste Disposal in Wa Senior High School
Source: Field Survey (2018)

Bad Disposal of Waste Good Disposal of Waste

Plate 3: Waste Disposal in Wa Technical Institute
Source: Field Survey (2018)

One aspect of the questionnaire also gathered from respondents on waste management
24/05/18
activities carried out in Senior High Schools within Wa Municipality and the responses are
presented in Table 7.

Table 7:
Waste Management Activities in Senior High Schools Within The Wa Municipality
Items Yes No F %
a. Separate paper waste 20 100 120 100%
(16.67%) (83.33%)
b. Separate plastic waste 0 120 120 100%
(0.00%) (100.0%)
c. Separate glass waste 0 120 120 100%
(0.00%) (100.0%)
d. Separate organic waste 0 120 120 100%
(0.00%) (100.0%)
e. Just throw the waste away without separation 120 0 120 100%
(100.0%) (0.00%)

Source: Field Survey (2018)

Results from Table 7 shows that, majority of the respondents 100 out of 120 representing
83.33% indicated that they do not separate paper waste in waste management activities in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality whiles 20 out of the 120 respondents

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 International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

representing 16.67% indicated that they separate paper waste in waste management activities
in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality.
Again, all the respondents 120 representing 100% respectively each indicated that they do not
separate plastic waste, separate glass waste and separate organic waste in waste management
in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. In addition, all the respondents 120
representing 100% indicated that they just throw waste away without separation in Senior
High Schools within the Wa Municipality.
The implication of this result means that waste management is a challenge in Senior High
Schools within the Wa Municipality hence improper waste management in these schools
within the Wa Municipality. This result is consistent with a study by Agyei (2009) who
asserted that students, teachers and school management do not seem to have adequate basic
knowledge about waste management practices in Ghana.
The implication of this result means that people have different attitude or perception about
waste management in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. However majority of
the respondents 98.33% believe that waste management is a good practice. Due to the
inclusion of some information of solid waste management in the Ghanaian syllabus at the
Basic, Secondary and Tertiary Education, most people as such would have gained some
knowledge before completing basic education and most of the respondents had basic and
secondary education. There is however a lack of appreciation by the public of what is
involved in waste management in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. This is
why Parker (2003) noted that public understanding and awareness of waste issues is currently
very poor.
Another aspect of the study gathered data from respondents on the institutions responsible for
waste management in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. All the respondents
expressed that the Wa Municipal Waste Management department and Zoomlion Ghana
Limited are the institutions responsible for waste management in Senior High Schools within
the Wa Municipality. This result clearly suggests that Zoomlion Ghana Limited is responsible
for the management of waste in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. This result
is consistent with a study by Owusu (2014) in Ghana, the issue of collection, management and
disposal of solid waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities.
The respondents further expressed that, waste is not properly managed in Senior High Schools
within the Wa Municipality. The implications of this result are that management of waste in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality is a problem by the institution responsible.
This is why Mensah (2005) asserted that many Senior High Schools environment in Ghana
are characterised by waste accumulations and poor environmental sanitation.
The result of this study confirms to the study by Martin (2011) who postulated that, there is
lack of provision for proper waste management in Senior High Schools in Ghana and the
resulting effect is poor environmental conditions. Depicting a similar picture of the problem,
Zahari (2017), has estimated that in some cases, up to 60 percent of solid waste generated
within some these school environment in poor countries remains uncollected and such refuse
accumulates on the school land creating a lot of environmental problems of which those in the
Wa Municipality is not an exception.
One aspect of the questionnaire also gathered data on the overall ratings of waste management
practices in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality and this is shown in Figure 3.

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 International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

Figure 3: Overall Ratings of Waste Management in Senior high Schools within the Wa Municipality
Source: Field Survey (2018)
It is also obvious that there are differences in ratings with management staff offering high
ratings in all categories followed by the students. The students’ ratings are relatively close to
that of the teachers. This can be explained by the fact that the ratings are likely to be
influenced by the social reality which defines the context of each respondent. For instance, the
student may be limited by the short time span they may have spent in the school; thereby, may
not have adequate historical memory to assess the waste management situation in Senior High
Schools within the Wa Municipality; even so their ratings can be considered as statistically
not different from that of the teachers. In terms of the differences in assessment of
management and teachers, it expected that management although accepting the fact that there
is no proper management of waste in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality; may
naturally provide higher ratings from a viewpoint of defense due to the fact that they are likely
to feel obligated to be the engineers of waste management.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS
A descriptive survey was employed for the study. A questionnaire and an interviews guide
were used to gather data from three selected public Senior High Schools students, teachers
and school management within the Wa Municipal. Respondents were selected through simple
random and purposive sampling. The collected data was analyzed in simple percentages. The
research question was to determine the awareness, knowledge and practices of waste disposal
management in the three selected Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality of the
Upper West Region of Ghana.
The study found out that different kind of solid wastes are generated in Senior High Schools
in the Wa Municipality. According to the students, teachers and school management, the
commonest types of solid waste generated in these schools were food waste, rubbish, and
ashes. Secondly, the study also found out that waste was being disposed off in open spaces in
Senior High Schools within the municipality. The study also found out that students, teachers

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 International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, August, 2020

and school management are worried about the waste disposal situation in Senior High Schools
within the municipality. Fourthly, it also emerged from the study that there are no proper
waste dump sites in Senior High Schools within the municipality.
The study further found out that waste are been thrown away without separation in Senior
High Schools within the municipality. Again, it also emerged from the study that waste
management practices is very important to students, teachers and school management.
Moreover, the study found out that the Wa Municipal Waste Management department and
Zoomlion Ghana Limited are the institutions responsible for waste management in Senior
High Schools within the Wa Municipality.
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions were drawn based on the research findings:
The study concludes that different kinds of solid wastes are generated in Senior High Schools
in the Wa Municipality and waste was being disposed off in open spaces in Senior High
Schools within the Wa Municipality. Again, the study concludes that students, teachers and
school management are worried about the waste disposal situation in Senior High Schools
within the Wa Municipality. Also, the study concludes that there are no proper waste dump
sites in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The study further concludes that
waste are been thrown away without separation in Senior High Schools within the Wa
Municipality.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations could be raised:
First and foremost, there should be more education on best waste management practices in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The study further recommends the
provision of adequate dustbins in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality by the Wa
Municipal Assembly.
The study recommends to the Environmental Protection Agency in Wa Municipal which is
the regulatory authority on sanitation to ensure routine monitoring of management of waste
disposal sites in Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality. The waste disposal sites in
Senior High Schools within the Wa Municipality should also be relocated because of its
negative environmental impact on the lives of students, teachers and school management.

Acknowledgements
The research team wants to thank the editorial board of Fair East Publishers.

Conflict of Interest Statement

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author.

Funding
The researcher has not received any support for the publication of this paper.

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