The relationship between Ghana and Guinea has been historic, dating back to the days of independence. Our two countries have been friends since then, and this partnership is a continuation of that brotherhood,” he said.

The Prime Minister spoke when JGC leadership, led by Executive Chairman Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday, November 3, after signing a landmark public-private partnership agreement with the Government of Guinea Conakry.

The agreement aims to establish an integrated, modern municipal waste management system for Conakry, moving the city from an unsustainable linear disposal model toward a circular sanitation economy prioritising waste recovery, recycling and resource utilisation.

Operating locally through Zoomlion Guinea Integrated Waste Solutions Limited (ZGIWSL), the company will work closely with the Ministry of Sanitation, Hydraulics and Hydrocarbons (MAHH) and the National Agency for Sanitation and Public Health (ANASP). Its responsibilities include managing and operating key Zone de Tri et de Transit (ZTT) transfer stations, organising waste collection in major public markets, and overseeing transportation to the Baritodé landfill and future resource-recovery facilities.

Minister Outlines Challenges

Earlier, Guinea’s Minister of Sanitation, Hydraulics and Hydrocarbons, Aboubacar Camara, said Conakry’s sanitation sector had reached a major turning point with the signing of the contract, which he said aligned with the vision of President Mamadi Doumbouya and the orientations of the Prime Minister.

For years, he said, Conakry was cleaned, but waste from Manéah and elsewhere was transported and dumped again in the heart of the city. “We cleaned the city, but afterwards we would gather these piles of trash again in the middle of the city. And that is what motivated the President of the Republic to ask us to close Dar-es-Salam in the first place.”

He explained that the second phase, coordinated by the Prime Minister, was to find solutions to definitively end catastrophic waste management. He said Guinea had worked with Jospong for years, describing the group as operating in 29 countries with enormous experience in waste management, recovery and transformation.

After initial due diligence, Guinean teams travelled to Ghana several times, he said. A month ago, negotiations intensified and after a three-day visit, the parties finalised the contracts binding the Ministry and the communes of Conakry.

Today, we can announce that the question of sanitation at the level of Conakry is meeting a major turning point in a decisive stage, namely the modernisation, the transformation, but also the industrialisation of our waste,” he noted.

For about thirty years, he said, Guinea had not been able to find a definitive solution “and I think that this time, we are on the right track. And it is thanks to the vision of a man but also the coordination and accompaniment of the Prime Minister.”

2,000 to 3,000 Jobs, New Image for Sanitation Work

The Minister thanked Dr. Agyepong, who he said was ready to commit funds for the early establishment of a waste processing and recovery plant. He said the plant will create at least 2,000 to 3,000 jobs and give sanitation a new image.

He noted that most young people currently working in the sector are foreigners, and that society’s view of the profession still leaves much to be desired. “With professionalisation and the valuing of this profession, it will allow many young people who are currently unemployed to say: ‘Thank God, at last we will participate in the construction of our lives and of our country,'” he expressed.

He linked the project to the Simandou 2040 programme initiated by the President, saying its vision is to make the capital clean. “If we have companies capable of providing solutions, but also employing young Guineans, I think that is an opportunity that we must seize and we will seize it,” he noted.

He emphasised that success would depend not only on equipment and technical capacity but also on active community participation, indicating ZGIWSL would work with municipal authorities and the Office of the Prime Minister to implement extensive public education and environmental awareness campaigns, extending to schools, local communes, traditional leadership structures and youth organisations.

African Solution” for African Cities

Dr. Agyepong conveyed fraternal greetings from the President of Ghana and commended President Doumbouya for his vision and commitment to transforming Guinea’s development landscape. He stressed the need for African countries to move beyond traditional financing and operational arrangements that have often failed to deliver sustainable solutions.

For over 30 years in Africa, governments have depended almost exclusively on World Bank and IMF frameworks to solve urban sanitation problems, which has repeatedly proven unsustainable over time,” he said. “What we are bringing to Guinea is a self-sustaining, circular industrial model built on localised African capacity. We are proud to buy into President Doumbouya’s Simandou 2040 vision, turning urban environmental challenges into drivers of economic growth, public safety and job creation.”

He outlined the group’s capacity — operations in 29 countries, an asset base exceeding $2.4 billion, approximately 10,000 employees globally, and a research and technical pool of more than 200 PhD holders specialising in waste engineering and related fields (figures provided by the company). He assured that machinery and equipment deployed in Conakry would be purpose-built to meet local operational requirements rather than standard imports — a principle he described as “exactement à nos propres besoins” (“exactly tailored to our own needs”). He also cited the group’s experience in Ghana and its reported $180 million infrastructure investments in Lagos State, Nigeria, as evidence of its capacity to deliver large-scale environmental infrastructure projects across Africa.

Dar-es-Salam Tragedy Underscores Urgency

The weaknesses in the city’s existing system were brought into sharp focus in August 2025 when torrential rainfall triggered the catastrophic collapse of the main Dar-es-Salam landfill at Gbessia, claiming at least 30 lives. The subsequent closure forced municipal authorities to redirect collected waste to distant disposal sites outside the urban centre, placing additional pressure on transportation and transfer infrastructure and reinforcing the need for a comprehensive intervention capable of restructuring Conakry’s waste management value chain.

Aligning with Simandou 2040

The agreement aligns with Simandou 2040, Guinea’s 15-year national socio-economic development framework championed by President Doumbouya. Anchored on five strategic pillars, the vision prioritises sustainable development, infrastructure modernisation and social inclusion, recognising that the country’s natural resources must be supported by functional, clean and climate-resilient urban infrastructure. Its water and sanitation objectives include expanding sanitation coverage, modernising waste collection systems and improving living conditions across the country’s communes.

Recovering Economic Value

The partnership comes at a critical time for Conakry, one of West Africa’s rapidly expanding capitals. Located on a narrow coastal peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean, the city’s population growth has significantly outpaced municipal sanitation infrastructure.

A major component of the partnership is recovering economic value from Conakry’s waste stream. Characterisation studies indicate household waste contains approximately 46 per cent organic matter, 18 per cent plastics, seven per cent metals, six per cent glass, and six per cent paper and cardboard. Through ZGIWSL’s circular approach, these materials will be systematically separated and recovered for productive use rather than sent directly to landfills, creating opportunities for local industries while reducing waste requiring final disposal.

Under the agricultural component, organic waste will be processed into quality compost for Guinean farmers, expected to improve soil fertility, support agricultural productivity and contribute to food security and agribusiness ambitions under Simandou 2040. Recovered plastics, paper, glass and metals will provide raw materials for domestic recycling facilities and manufacturing enterprises, creating green employment and expanding local SME participation in the sanitation value chain.

In addition to daily collection, transportation and processing, the partnership is expected to address longstanding environmental challenges associated with abandoned and poorly managed dumpsites. Drawing on Zoomlion’s experience rehabilitating degraded sites and converting them into productive public spaces and recreational facilities, the initiative could pave the way for eventual ecological restoration of former disposal locations, including the Gbessia site.

With administrative arrangements, land allocation and legal frameworks being advanced under the supervision of the Prime Minister and the MAHH, the establishment of Zoomlion Guinea Integrated Waste Solutions Limited represents a significant step toward restructuring Conakry’s sanitation system.

With more than 2,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste generated daily, Conakry has historically collected only about 44 to 55 per cent, contributing to refuse accumulation in communities and markets, blocked drainage systems, coastal plastic pollution and open-air burning, with serious public health and environmental implications.

Speaking on behalf of His Excellency President Adama Barrow at the sod-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 28, for the construction of The Gambia Integrated Waste Treatment Facilities, Vice President Jallow expressed deep appreciation to the Jospong Group of Companies and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for “their confidence in The Gambia and their commitment to partnering with our country in addressing one of our most persistent environmental and public health challenges.”

He emphasised that the agreement represents far more than a contractual arrangement, describing it as “a strategic step towards changing how waste is collected, transported, treated, recovered and safely disposed of in The Gambia.”

This initiative reflects the Government’s determination” to address long-standing challenges including inadequate waste collection, indiscriminate dumping, overflowing waste sites, and the associated health risks,” he stated.

Modern Infrastructure and Legacy Site Remediation

Under the agreement, the project will include the development of modern waste treatment and resource recovery infrastructure, notably a Mechanical Biological Treatment plant, a Material Recovery Facility and Transfer Stations.

Vice President Jallow also disclosed that the deal addresses “some of our most pressing legacy waste management challenges including the closure, remediation and rehabilitation of the Bakoteh and Mile 2 dumpsites.”

He noted that the timing of the ceremony coincides with broader efforts to strengthen environmental governance, citing the proposed Waste Management Bill and the new National Environment Management Bill, which are scheduled for consideration at the National Assembly alongside the ongoing review of anti-litter regulations.

This comprehensive approach brings together legislative reform, institutional strengthening, private sector investment, improved public services and responsible citizen participation,” he added.

Call for Community Ownership

The Vice President stressed that the success of the project ultimately depends on community participation, calling on residents of the West Coast Region and Greater Banjul Area to embrace responsible waste disposal practices, support segregation initiatives and actively participate in cleanup campaigns.

Waste management is not solely the responsibility of government institutions or waste collection companies; it is a shared responsibility. Every household, every business, every institution, every citizen has a role to play,” he urged.

He also highlighted the economic potential of the initiative, noting that it “presents significant opportunities for employment, resource recovery, recycling and innovation” and offers a pathway to transform waste “from an environmental challenge into an economic resource.”

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

The Vice President acknowledged the extensive assessments, consultations and negotiations that led to the project’s development, involving the National Environment Management Council, the Ministries of Environment and Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the National Environment Agency, the Gambia Revenue Authority, the Public Private Partnership Unit, relevant National Assembly Select Committees and participating Local Government Councils.

He particularly thanked the Brikama Area Council for providing land for the landfill component and urged all institutions to maintain a spirit of collaboration, stressing that “waste management is a national development responsibility and it must never become a matter of partisan division.”

The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, Yankuba Darboe, pledged the council’s continued cooperation as the host local government authority.

Representing the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA), Mahamadou Ceesay, emphasised that success depends on partnership across all levels of government, the private sector and communities.

We thank Zoomlion Ghana Limited for partnering with The Gambia and bringing its experience to this undertaking,” Ceesay said, adding that GALGA pledges its full cooperation to ensure the initiative produces “cleaner communities, healthier people, stronger councils and a more sustainable future for The Gambia,” he expressed.

How It All Began: Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong’s Remarks

After the Vice President’s remarks and the project details, the Chairman of Jospong Group and Zoomlion, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, recounted how the project started, tracing it to a chance encounter at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport.

He explained that the Vice President had travelled from Dubai and was transiting to Gambia when he saw protocol officers escorting a “very big person” to the VIP lounge.

They told me it was the Vice President of Gambia,” he said.

As a businessman, he added, “I don’t lose chances.”

He approached the Vice President, introduced himself as a waste management businessman and offered to do the same for Gambia.

Continuing, Dr. Agyepong said the Vice President welcomed the idea and introduced him to a protocol officer.

I told him I will come to Gambia, I will send a delegation, then the Minister of Environment followed and that initiated what we are witnessing today,” Dr. Agyepong recounted.

He also spoke warmly of his personal connection to The Gambia, noting that his first daughter attended law school in the country. He said she told him that in Gambia “you can walk in the night up to 1 am., without fear. People are respectful, kind.”

That motivation, he said, is what Jospong brought: “That a good people deserves good things,” he averred.

According Dr. Agyepong, he was meeting President Barrow for the first time at the ceremony: “Today I met the President, I’ve never met him before, I’ve never known him anywhere before, the gesture, the commitment, the reception… Your Excellency we humbly, we all just want to pledge that we will do all that we can for this project to become a reality.”

He disclosed that engineers were already on site and announced specific contributions from Jospong Group, including equipment to stop the burning of tyres at the Bakoteh dumpsite.

I’ve been informed that the landfill there is 23 years old now. All these tyres, car tyres you see there, they have always been burnt and then the wires taken out for sale,” he said.

But he promised to provide a grinding machine so that the tyres can be ground. “It’s a grinding machine, it doesn’t cost too much. We will bring it here and donate it to the community. And these tyres will be ground. And that is what you use to lay astroturf.”

He pleaded with the governor and the people that those who are burning should stop burning. “I’ll provide equipment for them. They should be packing the tyres,” he said.

He also pledged to donate a sanitation park for educational purposes: “Students will come and study…”

In closing, Dr. Agyepong expressed gratitude for the partnership: “Once again thank you very much for the privilege that you’ve given Jospong. I know you could have contacted so many big name companies but the privilege you’ve given us, we also are very humbled and we will work… do everything that we can to make this project a success.”

The engagement followed concerns raised by residents over the transportation of waste from parts of Accra to the Adipa Landfill site. The communities had raised environmental and public health concerns and called for greater consultation over activities at the site.

A meeting convened on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, by the Aburihene and Adontenhene of the Akuapem Traditional Council, Otubour Gyan Kwasi, brought together the Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong; the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem South, Hon. Paul Osae Offei; the Municipal Chief Executive for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Hon. Philibert Selorm Fummey; traditional leaders, residents and other stakeholders.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Otubour Gyan Kwasi said the engagement was convened primarily to establish a committee that would bring together the relevant stakeholders to work towards a lasting solution to the concerns surrounding the landfill.

He stressed the importance of documenting the discussions, commitments and decisions reached at the meeting to provide a clear reference point for all parties and help ensure that agreed interventions are implemented.

The Aburihene also encouraged residents to participate fully in community activities and take advantage of health interventions, particularly periodic health screening exercises, to regularly monitor their health status.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Agyepong acknowledged the concerns of the affected communities and assured residents of continued engagement as measures are taken to address the issues raised.

He announced a package of interventions for Adipa and neighbouring communities, including the construction of a health centre and a water project, community-wide fumigation exercises and periodic health screening for residents.

Dr. Agyepong also pledged scholarship support for beneficiaries from the eight affected communities to pursue studies in Russia, while assuring residents that additional assistance would be considered based on the needs of the communities.

The Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, and the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, welcomed the engagement and commended Dr. Agyepong for meeting directly with residents and listening to their concerns.

Hon. Annoh-Dompreh, who had previously called for greater stakeholder engagement over the transportation and disposal of waste at Adipa, reiterated the importance of consultation before major waste-management interventions are undertaken, particularly where host communities and their environment could be directly affected.

He emphasised the need for traditional authorities, local assemblies, community leaders and residents to be adequately engaged in decisions concerning major waste-management activities within their communities.

The Municipal Chief Executive of Nsawam Adoagyiri, Hon. Philibert Selorm Fummey, commended Mr. Agyepong for the infrastructural interventions being undertaken and expressed his commitment to leveraging the newly constituted committee to ensure that the agreed interventions are implemented.

He further appealed for the establishment of a waste treatment facility in the municipality, explaining that such an investment would help add value to waste received at the facility and also create jobs within the area rather than relying solely on disposal.

The MCE for Nsawam Adoagyiri added that the concerns surrounding the Adipa Landfill had been one of the issues he engaged Dr. Agyepong on, shortly after assuming office.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem South, Hon. Paul Osae Offei, expressed satisfaction that stakeholders had returned to the table to discuss the matter, describing the engagement as an indication of their readiness to work together to address the concerns of residents.

He expressed his appreciation to the Aburihene and other stakeholders for facilitating the dialogue and called for greater collaboration between Akuapem South and Nsawam-Adoagyiri to ensure that communities within both municipalities benefit from the interventions.

The interventions were welcomed by the traditional authorities, with the Aburihene urging residents to cooperate with Waste Landfills Company Limited and Zoomlion Ghana Limited to facilitate the successful implementation of the commitments.

As part of measures to ensure accountability and oversee the implementation of the agreed interventions, a 17-member committee comprising representatives of the affected communities and other relevant stakeholders was constituted.

The committee, which includes Dr. Agyepong as a member, will be chaired by the Chief of Nsawam, Nana Kofi Sarh, following authorisation by the Aburihene.

Members of the committee pledged to work diligently to ensure that the proposed interventions are implemented and that their benefits reach residents of the affected communities.

The engagement marks a significant move towards sustained dialogue among the affected communities, traditional authorities, local government representatives, Waste Landfills Company Limited and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

With the establishment of the 17-member committee, stakeholders now have a platform to follow up on commitments, address outstanding concerns and monitor the implementation of the agreed community interventions.

The parties pledged to continue working together to ensure that the concerns of residents are addressed while strengthening cooperation between the waste-management companies and their host communities.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources engagement with Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Ho, Volta Region on Saturday, September 19, 2026, Hon. Nketiah outlined a series of interventions undertaken by the assembly with support from Zoomlion, which he said deserved recognition and spotlight.

He noted that the company had been a reliable partner, particularly in ensuring that the municipality was always clean.

According to him, Zoomlion’s collaboration with the Krachi East Municipal Assembly has been effective, which has seen the company offer various free waste management services.

We are collaborating very well with Zoomlion and they are helping my municipality in lifting waste and also with clean-up exercises free of charge. During the National Sanitation Day clean-up, Zoomlion supports us with waste cleaning materials,” he disclosed.

Hon. Nketiah underscored that if not for Zoomlion’s IRECOP facility located at Yabram in the municipal, his area would have faced serious challenges as to where to dump its waste, especially “when we don’t have a landfill site.”

But because of the IRECOP, all our waste is channelled there. And now the most important thing is that because of the IRECOP, we have very cheap organic fertilisers which are helping our farmers,” he indicated.

These interventions from Zoomlion, the MCE said, had eased pressure on the municipal’s limited resources and called on other corporate bodies to emulate Zoomlion’s example by supporting assemblies in addressing sanitation and water challenges.

However, he said the 10 per cent sanitation allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was inadequate to meet the growing sanitation needs of the districts, making private sector support critical.

He urged the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources to consider the interventions of companies such as Zoomlion in its assessments, noting that their contributions were helping to bridge the financing gap in the sanitation and water sectors.

He also appealed to the government to increase and ensure timely release of the sanitation allocation to assemblies to enable them to plan and execute sanitation programmes effectively.

The Krachi East MCE’s remarks came as MMDAs in the Volta and Oti Regions raised concerns that inadequate skip and refuse containers were hampering sanitation efforts in their areas, with many of the containers in use worn out.

The issue came to the fore when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources engaged the MMDCEs in the two regions in Ho as part of their parliamentary oversight responsibility.

Addressing the Committee, chaired by the MP for Salaga South, the District Chief Executive of North Tongu, Victoria Amefadzi Doe Yawa, said the lack of skip containers was undermining effective waste collection in her district.

We are grateful to the Volta River Authority (VRA), which donated six skip containers to my district,” she said, adding that the assembly was in the process of procuring more. She, however, admitted that community participation in sanitation programmes remained low despite ongoing sensitisation efforts.

The engagement also revealed that many districts were not incentivising the sweepers they recruit well enough. For North Tongu, Mrs. Doe Yawa disclosed that sweepers were paid between GH¢300 and GH¢350 a month, an amount Chairman Oti Bless described as inadequate and urged assemblies to motivate their sanitation workers to give off their best.

For other districts, including Central Tongu, Afadzato South, Akatsi North, Ketu North and Adaklu, the lack of an engineered landfill site and a permanent refuse disposal site emerged as a major concern. The DCE of Central Tongu, Caroline Sefanu Dogbornu, who represented the DCE, Dodzi Addison Mornyuie, lamented that the absence of a permanent disposal site in her area was not helping their sanitation fight.

The Committee’s engagement formed part of a monitoring exercise to establish how the assemblies were accessing and utilising the 10 percent sanitation allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund. It also sought to determine the amounts allocated for the 2025 and 2026 financial years, how much had actually been received, the sanitation programmes undertaken and the challenges affecting access and utilisation.

The MMDAs were expected to outline their sanitation challenges and explain whether the allocation was adequate to meet their needs.

One of the assemblies that presented its accounts was North Tongu. According to its presentation, the assembly received GH¢15.45 million from its 2025 DACF allocation of about GH¢21.27 million, with approximately GH¢1.55 million representing the 10 percent sanitation allocation.

The funds were used for interventions including the construction of six-seater water-closet facilities at Mepoase Primary School and Aveime Girls School, monthly district sanitation programmes, procurement of sanitation equipment, public education, monitoring activities and the Sanitation Improvement Package and fumigation.

For 2026, the assembly reported an expected DACF allocation of about GH¢25.76 million, of which approximately GH¢8.27 million had been received by the first and second quarters, translating into a sanitation allocation of about GH¢826,599.

Beyond expenditure, the presentations highlighted challenges affecting the assemblies’ ability to address sanitation needs, including inadequate waste containers and logistics, irregular waste collection, limited funding for sanitation infrastructure, rapid growth in waste generation and difficulties in sustaining public participation.

The Committee also sought clarification on interventions presented, including the number and remuneration of sanitation workers, waste collection arrangements and the progress of sanitation and water projects. In one case, an assembly explained that 16 market sweepers were engaged and paid between GH¢300 and GH¢350 a month to clean designated markets after market days.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Ralph Opoku-Adusei, said the exercise aimed to establish what the MMDAs were doing with the 10 per cent and 20 per cent allocations designated for sanitation and water resources respectively.

He said the engagements were also helping the Committee understand the difficulties confronting the assemblies, including limitations on their control over expenditures tied to central government arrangements such as the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP).

Opoku-Adusei noted that while the sanitation allocation had given assemblies some resources to address sanitation problems, the broader challenge remained the availability of adequate and dedicated financing for sanitation.

He also called for sanitation activities such as National Sanitation Day clean-ups to be linked to the specific needs of individual districts and municipalities and assessed based on the results achieved.

The Committee is expected to continue engaging other MMDAs as it gathers information on sanitation financing, expenditure, programme implementation and challenges across the two regions before making recommendations to Parliament.

The commendation was made on Friday, 18th September, 2026, when the Committee visited the Ho Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) at Akrofu-Agorve, as part of the first day of its two-day monitoring tour of sanitation and waste management facilities in the Volta and Oti regions.

The Committee, led by its Chairman and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, was taken through a presentation on the operations of the facility, including waste collection, processing, recycling, and the conversion of organic waste into compost.

Speaking to the media after the inspection, Oti Bless said the visit formed part of the Committee’s oversight responsibility to assess the state of waste management infrastructure and engage operators and other stakeholders on challenges confronting the sector.

He said the Committee had so far visited about eight regions and observed significant sanitation challenges in several parts of the country. He, however, singled out the Volta Region for commendation, describing it as the cleanest region among those visited by the Committee.

Among all the regions we have visited, Volta is the cleanest region so far,” Oti Bless said, while urging the media and other stakeholders to intensify public education and advocacy on sanitation to help address the country’s waste management challenges.

The Committee also heard concerns from the Jospong Group of Companies about infrastructure gaps affecting the effective operation of the Ho IRECOP.

The Group Head of Government Relations at the Environment and Sanitation Processing Cluster of the Jospong Group of Companies,  Betty Brown Nyadu, identified the poor road network leading to the facility as a major challenge.

According to her, the poor condition of the access road could discourage waste operators from transporting waste to the facility and potentially contribute to the disposal of waste in nearby forests and farms. She therefore appealed to the government to construct the road to improve access to the plant and support efficient waste haulage.

She further called for the establishment of transfer stations at strategic locations closer to communities, explaining that such facilities would allow waste to be collected and consolidated before being transported to the IRECOP for processing and recovery.

Nyadu also appealed for policy support to create a reliable market for materials produced from processed waste. She said about 60 per cent of the waste received at the facility was organic and could be converted into compost or organic fertiliser to support agriculture in the region, urging the government to consider measures that would promote the procurement and use of locally produced materials.

Oti Bless assured the Jospong Group that the Committee would capture the concerns raised during the visit in its report to Parliament. He specifically mentioned the poor road network and the need for transfer stations as issues that required attention, adding that the Committee would engage the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

The Chairman also reaffirmed the Committee’s support for the proposed National Sanitation Authority Bill, saying stakeholders in the sanitation sector had expressed support for the establishment of a dedicated authority to strengthen the management of sanitation in the country. The Committee’s two-day monitoring exercise continues with engagements and assessments in the region before moving to Oti Region

Zoomlion Seeks Support for Waste Management

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Water and Sanitation has called for increased government support for waste management facilities across the country to improve sanitation and promote sustainable waste management.

The call was made when the Committee toured the Ho Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in the Volta Region as part of its monitoring tour of waste management facilities in the Volta and Oti regions on Friday, September 18, 2026.

The Committee, led by its Chairman and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, was taken through a presentation on the operations and activities of the facility, including its waste processing, recycling and composting processes.

The Group Head of Government Relations at the Environment and Sanitation Processing Cluster of the Jospong Group of Companies, Betty Brown Nyadu, said the poor road network leading to the facility remained a major challenge to its operations.

She, therefore, appealed to the government to construct the road to the facility, explaining that improved access would encourage waste collectors to transport more waste to the plant instead of resorting to indiscriminate disposal in nearby forests and farms.

She also called for the establishment of transfer stations at strategic locations close to communities to facilitate the collection and transportation of waste to the IRECOP for processing and recycling.

According to Nyadu, a significant proportion of the waste received at the facility is organic and could be converted into compost or organic fertiliser to support agriculture in the region. She urged the government to consider policies, including local content measures, that would support the procurement and use of locally produced compost and other recycled materials.

For his part, Oti Bless said the Committee’s visit formed part of its responsibility to assess waste management challenges across the country and engage key stakeholders on measures to improve sanitation. He said the Committee had visited several regions and described the Volta Region as the cleanest among those visited so far.

He, however, acknowledged the challenges identified at the Ho IRECOP, particularly the poor road network and the absence of transfer stations, and assured that the concerns would be captured in the Committee’s report to Parliament. He expressed optimism that the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Roads and Highways, would consider the road challenge.

Bless also reiterated the Committee’s support for the passage of the proposed National Sanitation Authority Bill, saying a dedicated authority would help strengthen the sanitation sector. He further called on the media and other stakeholders to support efforts to address Ghana’s sanitation challenges, while indicating that the Committee would engage Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) on their responsibilities in managing sanitation resources.

The directive, dated September 14, 2026, followed investigations triggered by several complaints from members of the public about alleged air pollution and nuisance associated with the company’s operations.

The EPA subsequently moved to enforce the shutdown at the company’s premises on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

According to the Authority, its investigations found that the factory was releasing sustained visible particulate matter and gaseous emissions into the surrounding environment.

The EPA said the emissions had potential negative implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health.

The enforcement action was taken under Section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), which provides the EPA with powers to issue directives and enforce environmental compliance. The Act replaced the former Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490), and expanded the Authority’s oversight and enforcement mandate.

Permit conditions breached

The EPA said Empire Cement failed to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns, contrary to Condition 9.1 of the schedule to its environmental permit.

The Authority also identified breaches relating to the installation, operation and maintenance of pollution control systems at the factory.

Among the requirements, the company was expected to install appropriate state-of-the-art pollution control systems on all pollution discharge units to ensure compliance with the Ghana Standard for Environment and Health Protection requirements for ambient air quality and point-source or stack emissions, GS 1236:2019.

The EPA said the company had failed to meet this requirement.

It further found that existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment were not being maintained in good working condition to effectively control air pollution and keep emissions within permissible limits.

The Authority also cited shortcomings in the maintenance and operation of dust-control equipment intended to prevent or minimise dust emissions from the facility.

According to the EPA, the company was required to ensure that its pollution control systems remained operational and effective at all times in accordance with GS 1236:2019.

Conditions for reopening

The shutdown means Empire Cement cannot resume operations until it satisfies the corrective measures outlined by the EPA.

The company has been directed to submit its outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns by October 1, 2026.

It must also install appropriate air pollution control systems capable of ensuring compliance with GS 1236:2019.

In addition, the company has been instructed to restore and maintain its existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment in proper working condition to reduce emissions and ensure compliance with permissible limits for fenceline air quality and point-source or stack emissions.

The EPA has previously warned regulated businesses that operating in breach of conditions attached to an environmental permit constitutes an offence under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124).

Empire Cement describes itself as a cement manufacturing company based at Weija Junction in Accra. Its website says the company was established in 2023 and produces Portland limestone cement for the Ghanaian construction market.

The latest action places renewed attention on environmental compliance within Ghana’s manufacturing sector, particularly the need for industrial facilities to maintain effective pollution-control systems and comply with environmental monitoring and reporting requirements.

Held under the theme “Small Actions, Big Impact,” the month-long celebration brought together employees, media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), SMEs and other stakeholders to deepen understanding of sustainability and demonstrate how individual and collective actions can contribute to meaningful societal change.

The celebration officially commenced on August 4, 2026, with the launch of Sustainability Month, setting the tone for a series of activities designed to make sustainability practical, relatable and actionable.

A key highlight was the Lunch and Learn- ESG in Your Zone, which provided employees with insights into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and their relevance to MTN’s operations and everyday decision-making.

Employees visited the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, gaining first-hand knowledge of waste management, recycling and the importance of responsible waste disposal. The visit underscored the need for businesses and individuals to adopt sustainable practices that support a circular economy.

The month also focused on supporting Ghanaian businesses through a Sustainability Workshop for SMEs. The workshop equipped participating SMEs with practical knowledge on integrating sustainability into their operations while demonstrating how responsible business practices can enhance resilience, efficiency and long-term growth.

Environmental conservation took centre stage when MTN Ghana employees participated in a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve. The initiative highlighted the importance of restoring Ghana’s forest cover and encouraged employees to take practical steps towards protecting the environment.

The month-long celebration concluded with a Sustainability Bird Watching Walk, organised in collaboration with the Ghana Wildlife Society for media representatives and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The walk provided a platform for engagement, dialogue and shared learning on sustainability, while reinforcing the importance of collective action in building a greener and more sustainable Ghana.

To further drive employee participation, MTN Ghana also organised weekly sustainability quizzes culminating in an Interdivisional Sustainability Quiz Challenge. The initiative combined learning and friendly competition to deepen employees’ understanding of sustainability and encourage them to become sustainability champions within their respective divisions.

Speaking on the successful conclusion of the month-long celebration, Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, said the activities demonstrated that sustainability is not limited to large-scale interventions but begins with the small choices individuals and organisations make every day.

Sustainability is a shared responsibility. Through this month’s activities, we have seen that small actions, when multiplied across our people, communities and stakeholders, can create significant and lasting impact. As MTN Ghana celebrate 30 years and continues its journey as a force for good, we encourage everyone to make sustainability part of their everyday actions,” she added.

The successful celebration reinforces MTN Ghana’s commitment to continuing to embed sustainability across its business while empowering employees, partners and stakeholders to contribute to positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.

MTN Ghana remains focused on sustaining the momentum by translating the lessons from the month into everyday practices and encouraging its people and communities to embrace sustainability as a shared responsibility. Together, these small actions can create a lasting impact.

The Volta Regional Manager of the company, Emmanuel Amemakalor, gave the assurance during a four-hour disinfection and disinfestation exercise conducted at the Ho Central Market last Wednesday.

The exercise, organised in collaboration with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), is being rolled out across all 18 municipalities and districts in the region and is expected to end on September 19.

Amemakalor said although the floods recorded in the region were less severe than those experienced in some other parts of the country, the potential public health risks associated with the disaster could not be overlooked.

He explained that the aftermath of the floods could increase the risk of malaria due to mosquito breeding, while floodwaters could also spread cholera and other waterborne diseases into affected communities.

He said the exercise was not limited to markets but also covered lorry parks and other public facilities, including schools and public toilets.

This exercise is being undertaken free of charge as part of our corporate social responsibility,” he added.

The Regional Environmental Health Officer (REHO), Stella Kumedzro, said the fumigation exercise was a timely intervention to eliminate faecal matter displaced by floodwaters and control disease vectors seeking new breeding and habitation sites.

She urged households to maintain clean surroundings and adopt good sanitation practices to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly in the aftermath of flooding.

The exercise was subsequently extended to Hodzo, near Ho, which was among the communities worst affected by the floods.

The exercise covered the Techiman Central Market, slaughterhouse, public toilets and the dumping site at Fiaso.

Speaking to Classic FM News, the Bono East Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Benedict Awuah, said the exercise was aimed at protecting residents from diseases and creating a cleaner and healthier environment.

He said the exercise targeted key public facilities and appealed to residents, market users and other stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities to ensure its success.

Awuah further disclosed that the exercise would be extended to other municipalities and districts across the Bono East Region as part of efforts to strengthen public health and environmental sanitation.

The Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Kwaku Adjei Mensah, commended Zoomlion and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative.

He said the exercise would help improve sanitation conditions in the municipality and minimise the risk of disease outbreaks.

The Bono East Regional Environmental Health Officer, Lamptey Gyan, also emphasised the importance of maintaining clean surroundings and supporting initiatives that promote environmental sanitation and public health.

I used to feel genuinely excited whenever a new professor was appointed, another group of doctors graduated or newly trained engineers entered the profession. Each announcement gave me hope. I saw every new academic title as evidence that Ghana was building a larger army of knowledgeable minds—people equipped to solve our problems and move the country forward.

I particularly enjoyed listening to inaugural lectures delivered by professors. These lectures often represented decades of disciplined study, research and intellectual achievement. I listened with admiration, believing that such knowledge would eventually leave the lecture halls, laboratories and academic journals and find practical expression in the life of our nation.

Not anymore.

Galamsey has profoundly changed the way I view academic achievement. It has forced me to ask an uncomfortable question: What is the purpose of producing thousands of professors, doctors, engineers, lawyers and scientists if our collective knowledge cannot protect the elementary foundations of human survival?

What is the value of our degrees when the rivers from which we drink are being poisoned before our eyes? What is the meaning of our professorships when forests are being destroyed, farmlands devastated and entire communities exposed to serious environmental and health dangers? Of what practical use are our universities if their graduates can build impressive careers but cannot defend the country that made their education possible?

The purpose of education is not to decorate individuals with titles. A country is not educated simply because it has many universities, professors and certificate holders. Education must be measured by the intelligent application of knowledge to solve problems, improve society, protect the environment and advance humanity.

Education Made Visible

Across the world, nations are showing that education becomes meaningful when knowledge is translated into long-term policy and practical action.

Singapore has embarked on a national programme to plant one million more trees as part of its transformation into a “City in Nature.” Its National Parks Board says urban greenery can cool surrounding areas, improve air quality and strengthen environmental resilience. By the 2024–2025 reporting year, more than 760,000 trees had already been planted under the programme. That is knowledge leaving the lecture hall and entering the streets. It is science translated into public policy – and public policy translated into a living inheritance for future generations. [Singapore National Parks Board](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/docs/default-source/resources/annual-report/ar-2024-25/nparks-ar-2025_6-oct_no-fs_pdf-a.pdf)

China has spent decades confronting desertification through its vast Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Programme. In 2024, the country announced that the Taklimakan Desert—its largest desert—had been completely encircled by a 3,046-kilometre sand-blocking green belt after more than four decades of sustained work. China is attempting to push vegetation into areas where nature itself is hostile to plant life. [Government of China](https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202412/08/content_WS6754d860c6d0868f4e8edc2c.html)

Ethiopia, despite its economic difficulties, has also recognized that environmental restoration is fundamental to national survival. Through its Green Legacy Initiative, it launched an ambitious programme to plant billions of trees and pledged to restore 15 million hectares of degraded forests and landscapes by 2030. These efforts are not perfect, and planting seedlings must always be followed by protection and long-term care. Nevertheless, the scale of the ambition reveals a country attempting to confront environmental degradation rather than surrender to it. [United Nations Environment Programme](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/spotlight-ethiopias-tree-planting-programme)

Costa Rica offers another powerful example. After suffering severe deforestation, it used environmental policies and incentives to reverse the decline. The World Bank reported in 2022 that forests covered close to 60 per cent of the country, compared with about 40 per cent in 1987. Costa Rica demonstrated that ecological destruction is not necessarily permanent when knowledge, political will and sustained national action are brought together. [World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/11/16/costa-rica-s-forest-conservation-pays-off)

Even across Africa’s Sahel region – one of the harshest environments on Earth – countries participating in the Great Green Wall initiative are trying to restore degraded landscapes, improve food and water security and resist desertification. They are attempting to make barren land productive again. [United Nations Environment Programme](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/green-wall-promote-peace-and-restore-nature-africas-sahel-region)

These countries face different conditions, and none is environmentally perfect. But they share an important understanding: the environment is not an obstacle to development. It is the foundation of development.

My Bedfordshire Testimony

Since 1998, I have repeatedly visited a small village in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. Over nearly three decades, I have noticed something remarkable: the entire area appears to be getting greener and greener.

The trees planted years ago have matured. I planted a few trees myself including conifers and helped nurture them until they gained roots. Woodlands and hedgerows have been protected and expanded. The landscape looks increasingly alive, cared for and deliberately preserved. My observation is also consistent with the wider national direction: official UK statistics show that woodland habitat increased from about 10 per cent of the country’s land area in 1990 to 13 per cent in 2024. [UK Office for National Statistics](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/bulletins/uknaturalcapitalaccounts/2025)

Within Bedfordshire itself, the long-term Forest of Marston Vale strategy seeks to increase tree cover from approximately 3 per cent to 30 per cent. This is what purposeful planning looks like: identifying environmental damage, setting a generational target and working consistently towards it. [Bedford Borough Council](https://www.bedford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy-and-place-making/technical-evidence-and-links)

Each time I return to that little village of Bromham and see it becoming greener, I am reminded of what is possible when a society thinks beyond the present generation.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of Ghana.

Since 1998, Ghana should also have become progressively greener. Our towns should have acquired mature tree canopies. Our degraded forests should have been restored. Our rivers should have become cleaner. Our cities should have been cooler, healthier and more beautiful.

Instead, in many places, we have moved in the opposite direction. Trees are removed and replaced with concrete. Forests are invaded. Farmlands are excavated. Rivers that sustained communities for generations are turned into channels of muddy, contaminated water. While other countries struggle to push forests into deserts, we are turning naturally fertile and forested land into wasteland.

China is fighting to make deserts green. Ghana is allowing green land to become desert-like.

Ethiopia is mobilizing citizens to plant billions of trees. Ghana struggles to protect the mature trees and natural forests it already possesses.

Costa Rica reversed deforestation through deliberate national policy. Ghana continues to permit ecological destruction despite possessing the scientific knowledge, professional expertise and legal institutions required to stop it.

The contrast is not merely environmental. It is educational.

Schooled, But Are We Educated?

Ghana has universities, professors, doctors, engineers, lawyers, environmental scientists and highly qualified public officials. We understand hydrology, toxicology, forestry, agriculture, mining, economics and public health. We know what mercury and other pollutants can do. We know that forests protect watersheds, regulate temperature and preserve biodiversity. We know that contaminated rivers threaten human health, agriculture and national security.

Yet galamsey continues.

This is not ignorance resulting from a lack of information. It is something more disturbing: the possession of knowledge without the conscience, courage and discipline to apply it.

Knowledge that remains trapped in certificates, offices, conference halls and inaugural lectures has failed society. Education must be visible in the quality of our institutions, the conduct of our leaders, the condition of our communities and the protection of our natural inheritance.

It must help us think beyond immediate profit and consider the lives of people who will inhabit this country 20, 50, 100 or even 1,000 years from now.

Galamsey has therefore stripped our impressive academic titles of much of their moral and practical significance. It has exposed the enormous distance between being schooled and being educated.

We know that polluted water threatens life, yet we continue to poison our rivers. We understand that environmental toxins can harm present and future generations, yet meaningful action remains inadequate. We know that forests regulate climate, protect water systems and support life, yet we permit their destruction.

We understand the science. We understand the medicine. We understand the engineering, economics and law. But our national behaviour contradicts our knowledge.

Why the Titles No Longer Impress Me

That is why the appointment of another professor or the graduation of another cohort of professionals no longer excites me as it once did.

The ceremonies continue. The gowns remain colourful. The speeches are eloquent, the inaugural lectures sophisticated and the titles increasingly impressive. But outside the auditoriums, the rivers continue to turn brown.

This is not an attack on professors, doctors, engineers or universities. It is a challenge to all educated Ghanaians – including myself. Education brings responsibility. The greater our knowledge, influence and privilege, the greater our obligation to speak, think, organize and act in defence of society.

Ghana does not merely need more title holders. We need educated citizens whose learning develops a conscience. We need professors whose research shapes national action, doctors who defend the environmental foundations of public health, engineers who design sustainable solutions, lawyers who insist that environmental laws be enforced and leaders capable of thinking beyond the next election.

An inaugural lecture should not merely demonstrate what a professor knows. It should help transform the society in which that knowledge was acquired.

A medical degree should not only provide a career. It should compel its holder to confront the environmental conditions that will fill our hospitals tomorrow.

An engineering qualification should not merely permit its holder to construct buildings and roads. It should help build a country capable of surviving and flourishing for generations.

Until our knowledge can protect the water we drink, the soil that feeds us and the forests that sustain us, we should be cautious about celebrating ourselves as an educated nation.

Our degrees may prove that we attended school.

Our titles may prove that we passed examinations.

But galamsey is the great national examination of our education, conscience and capacity to apply knowledge.

So far, we are failing it.

The author, Efo Small, is a steward of the environment and an avowed anti-galamsey activist