Korle Klottey, Jekora Ventures collaborate to improve waste management

The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) and Jekora Ventures, a local waste management company, have embarked on a green economy project to improve waste management in the municipality.

As part of the initiative, the assembly has trained 50 coconut sellers within the municipality in how to properly dispose of coconut husks.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the assembly, Mr Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah, told the Daily Graphic after the meeting in Accra last Thursday that the training was informed by the volume of waste coconut retailers generated, and the improper disposal of coconut husks into drains and onto the streets.

He said majority of coconut sellers were not aware of the assembly’s arrangements on disposal of waste, hence the sensitisation programme.

“These coconut sellers move their trucks from place to place to sell. When it’s time to dispose of the husks, some of them pay unauthorised collectors who just dispose them anywhere instead of taking them to the Jekora holding site opposite Iran Clinic”, he said.

Good sanitation

Mr Tawiah, however, noted that improving the sanitary conditions within the municipality, particularly at trading centres, was crucial for the the overall development and wellbeing of the people.

In view of that, he said, the assembly had profiled almost every trader within the municipality, noting that the move had enabled them to effectively carry out initiatives, monitor their revenue collection, and help to enforce the sanitation bye-laws.

Waste management

The Managing Director of Jekora Ventures, Mr Immanuel B. Nartey-Tokoli, said 23 cubic metres of coconut waste was collected per day within the municipality.

“What we currently do is that there are companies that use the coconut husks to produce briquette, which is a better fuel than wood and does not have any negative impact on the climate as wood, so we accumulate the coconut husks and supply them to that company to turn them into fuel,” he said.

He advised the participants to work within the rules and regulations of the assembly, and advised community members to be responsible towards proper waste management.

The Environmental and Sanitation Health Officer at the assembly, Mr Victor Aquaye, advised the participants to ensure that they traded in hygienic conditions and environment.