A project that aims at giving practical knowledge to pupils on how to generate energy and get fertilizer from waste has been launched in Accra.
It is being piloted at the Umar Bun Islamic School in Madina for 18 months with funding from the Global Challenges Research Fund of UK.
The project also aims at getting clean and secure energy while managing waste as a resource in the country. It is being implemented by the Lancaster University UK, the Industrial Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR and a civil society organisation on environment, HATOF Foundation among others.
The project is being implemented in four phases with the CSIR commencing the first phase with the construction the bio-digester. The project known as Accelerating the Adoption of Circular Sanitation Demonstration Systems for Improved Health Outcomes for Improved Health Outcomes, ACTUATE is also being implemented in Nigeria.
The Coordinator of the Project in Ghana, Dr Richard Bayitse of the IIR of the CSIR said COVID 19 has made it impossible for the students to have the practical experience in the construction of the digester.
He said the steps will be videoed for them. The waste will be from the school and neighbouring communities. The gas generated will be used in cooking for the students whilst the fertilizer will be given to a fruit processing company for its farm.
The Chief Executive Officer of HATOF Foundation, Samuel Dotse said the social mobilisation aspect of the project which includes sensitization programmes is expected to lead to a policy formulation on waste to energy.
He said the foundation will learn from the weaknesses of previous projects in that regard for the success of ACTUATE in order to attain the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially on climate change, health and poverty reduction.
The Special Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation, Mr Oliver Boakye said the ministry is leading in implementing the SDG’s in collaboration with UNESCO using Science, Technology and Innovation, STI as the driving force.
He noted that with the circular economy being implemented in production, waste is a resource. He said with the ACTUATE project diseases associated with waste will be reduced while protecting the environment.
Story filed by Joyce Gyekye.
