The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo in partnership with Zoomlion On Tuesday, the 8th of June 2021 has officially unveiled 500 trucks to augment existing efforts by the company to manage waste in the country.
President Akufo-Addo in his address to officially launched the trucks applauded the Jospong Group Of Companies(JGC) as well as the members of the Environmental Service Providers Association(ESPA).
In his address, the president said the rapid population growth has increased waste generation hence the need for immediate attention to address the waste challenges facing the country.
The President said the country currently generates some 7,517,540 metric tonnes of waste.
This situation, he said, presented enormous investment opportunities for which the private sector can take advantage of.
Nana Akufo-Addo maintained that rapid population growth with its consequent increase in human activities meant that waste management generation activities still continued to be a challenge in the country.
He, therefore, commended JOSPONG Group of companies, Zoomlion Ghana Ltd. and Environmental service providers(ESL) for supporting the cleanup initiative drive by the government. He however asked for more private sector companies to collaborate with the government in creating business opportunities in the waste management space.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey on his part indicated that the sanitation trucks would help achieve the objective of the ‘Let’s Make Accra Work Again Project’.
“I stand to pledge the resolute commitment of the Regional Coordinating Council and all Metropolitan and Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure these trucks are put to judicious use while strictly adhering to maintenance regimes for a longer life span,” he assured.
For her part, the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, commended the President for his unwavering commitment to ensure that Ghana becomes the cleanest country in Africa.
The Group Chairman of the Jospong Group Of Companies(JGC) Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong in his address noted that a country cannot have meaningful economic growth without effort to address sanitation challenges which have engulfed the country.
He said “Good sanitation has become a powerful driver of the development of national economies and has in no small way impacted positively on health, education, environment, local tourism, job creation, productivity, as well as human development. Suffice it to say that if any country wants to develop, then such a country must take sanitation seriously, as it has the potential to propel growth in a suitable manner.”
According to the Group chairman, the 100 new waste and 25 disinfectants trucks are part of 500 consignments with an additional 5,000 motorized tricycles to arrive by the end of the third quarter of the year.
Dr. Agyepong also commended the Government of Ghana and the ministry of sanitation for embarking on various initiatives to help manage waste in the country. He, therefore, assured Ghanaians of the company’s preparedness to continuously find a sustainable way of managing waste in the country.
