Technical efficiency and performance determinants of solid waste management in Ghana’s municipalities and district assemblies

This study applied the input‑oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique to evaluate the efficiency of solid waste management companies operating within Ghana’s municipal and district assemblies (MDAs) and to identify the factors driving performance variations. Using purposive sampling, archival data from 26 MMDAs across five regions were analysed to compute efficiency based on cost input–output ratios. Results showed that the average technical efficiency for municipal waste companies was 0.79, compared to 0.86 for district companies. Despite districts spending more per capita on solid waste management (3.83 vs. 2.53), their waste collection rates were lower (0.16 vs. 0.42 kg/capita/day), with both groups falling short of the national average of 0.51 kg/capita/day. A robust regression analysis identified organisational structure, cultural, and social context as significant determinants of performance, with cultural and technical–organisational factors exerting the strongest influence, followed by institutional arrangements and social context. The study provides a methodological framework for assessing, monitoring, and benchmarking waste management companies, while underscoring the practical importance of cultural and organisational factors for sustainable service delivery and informing policy directions in Ghana.