Government concerned about GH¢1.2bn owed Zoomlion

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Ahmed Ibrahim, has raised concerns over a crippling GH¢1.2 billion debt owed to Zoomlion by the government.

He said the debt, which was owed by the previous government, was of significant concern to the current administration as it had the potential to affect the company’s efforts to ensure sustainable waste management.

“This debt has been a significant concern for the government as we are closely collaborating with Zoomlion to address Ghana's waste management challenges,” he said.

Speaking to the media last Thursday, the Banda Member of Parliament (MP) said the government was committed to forging solid partnerships with private waste management firms to rid the country of filth.

Zoomlion investment

The minister hailed the ZGL for the unparalleled and strategic investment in sanitation infrastructure across West Africa.

He said the ZGL’s investment in Ghana’s waste management value chain, particularly plastics, was crucial to national development as it tied in with the government’s agenda to reset the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) sector.

"The kind of sanitation infrastructure that Zoomlion has invested in - both municipal solid and liquid waste, and the robustness of the recycling waste management plants is so unparalleled and needs commendation," he said.

He added that the ZGL’s cutting-edge waste management facilities were indispensable and had positioned the country as a regional leader in sustainable waste solutions.

In particular, he said the modern recycling plants, faecal waste management systems and sewage-to-resource technologies Zoomlion had invested in across the country would boost the conversion of waste into compost and charcoal.

Mr Ahmed said those facilities aligned with Ghana’s 2016 ban on ocean dumping of faecal waste, a policy enacted under former President John Dramani Mahama that halted hazardous coastal pollution.  

“Before Zoomlion, faecal waste flowed freely into the sea, causing diseases such as cholera. Their infrastructure is now our lifeline,” he said.

He urged Zoomlion not to relent in its efforts to complete its waste infrastructure transformation agenda.

Sanitation challenge

The minister linked recent cholera outbreaks in coastal cities such as Cape Coast, Winneba and Takoradi to lingering gaps in public sanitation education.

He underscored the need for intensified advocacy by all stakeholders to curb reckless waste disposal, particularly in water bodies critical for domestic and agricultural use.  

"Zoomlion's work goes beyond just sweeping our streets, it's about safeguarding national health and environmental sustainability," he said.

Mr Ibrahim said the government would rally both state and non-state actors within the WASH sector to deliver quality sanitation services to all citizens.