By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana has emerged as Africa’s leading country in waste treatment infrastructure, with approximately 50 waste treatment plants established across the country over the past decade, according to the President of the Environmental Service Providers Association Ghana (ESPA) and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue on landfill operations and sustainable solid waste management in the Greater Accra Region, Dr. Agyepong said no other country on the African continent has matched Ghana’s scale of investment in waste treatment facilities.
“Let us not forget that Ghana stands alone in Africa with about 50 waste treatment plants. No other African country has achieved this level of infrastructure development in the waste management sector over the last decade,” he stated.
The dialogue brought together government officials, sanitation experts, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and private sector operators to discuss long-term solutions to waste disposal challenges in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).
Dr. Agyepong attributed Ghana’s progress to sustained investment in local expertise, innovation and infrastructure development. He noted that the country’s waste management sector has evolved significantly, positioning Ghana as a source of technical expertise for other African nations.
According to him, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Africa’s waste management conglomerate, continues to invest heavily in the professional development of its workforce. Staff members who have served the company for more than 13 years are offered scholarships to further their education as part of efforts to build a highly skilled workforce.
He revealed that the company currently boasts about 200 doctorate degree holders and approximately 1,500 employees with master’s degrees. In addition, about 120 staff members are currently pursuing higher education programmes in Russia.
Dr. Agyepong further highlighted Ghana’s growing expertise in both waste and water management, driven largely by private sector innovation and investment. He disclosed that local manufacturing initiatives have enabled the production of waste management equipment within the country, reducing dependence on imports.
Among the innovations developed locally are modern tricycles designed to support waste collection activities by “borla taxi” operators and tricycle riders across communities. The initiative, he said, has improved waste collection efficiency while creating employment opportunities.
He also pointed to major waste treatment facilities established across the country, including the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant Limited, the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, and the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP), as examples of Ghana’s commitment to modern and sustainable waste management.
The stakeholder dialogue formed part of broader discussions on landfill operations and sustainable solid waste management strategies aimed at reducing reliance on traditional landfill systems and promoting recycling, composting and resource recovery.
Participants at the forum emphasized the need for continued collaboration between government and the private sector to sustain the gains made in the sanitation sector and strengthen Ghana’s position as a leader in environmental management across Africa.
