President commends Jospong Group

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the management of the Jospong Group of Companies to remain focused in making meaningful contributions to national development.

He expressed satisfaction with the operations of the Accra Recycling and Compost Plant (ARCP) at Adjen Kotoku, noting that the plant was bringing to bear efficient and modern ways of sanitation management.

The Jospong Group operates the Accra Recycling and Compost Plant.

The President said this when he visited the ARCP last Friday to inspect the operations of the plant.

“What we are witnessing here is the modern way of providing service, the collaboration between the state and the private sector to deliver public good. And, in this case, the most important in any city is sanitation,” he stated.

The President told the Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong: “More power to your elbow. The contributions you are making to our social life are inestimable. We have to encourage you.”

Subject of controversy

President Nana Akufo-Addo, exchanging pleasantries with some chiefs at Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region

“When you are at the forefront of doing things, like you are, you will be the subject of controversy; it goes with the territory. I know you a little bit, and I know you are capable of handling it. Stay focused,” President Akufo-Addo advised.

With Greater Accra’s population estimated at between five and seven million, the President noted that “if we do not have an efficient, modern way of dealing with waste disposal, then we will have a city that will have major troubles with hygiene and an egress of cleanliness”.

Commenting on the plant, the President said: “It is an eye-opener for me. It is about what is possible, about what collaboration can do, and what is possible with encouragement and proper policy framework, if we have confidence in Ghanaian entrepreneurs.”

“Ghanaian entrepreneurs have to be at the forefront of the social and economic transformation of the country. This sort of facility, seeing it work in detail, is extremely encouraging.”

President Akufo-Addo was excited “about the idea that out of here too, it is making an important contribution to our balance of payments by being able to export products to neighbouring countries. If you put all of these things together, we are seeing the best kind of collaboration between the State and the private sector.”

President Akufo-Addo and other dignitaries being conducted round by Dr Joseph Siaw Agyapong (left), Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies

Three processing facilities

For his part, Mr Agyepong said the company had invested about $98 million in three different waste processing facilities across the country, which employed 700 permanent workers.

“Your presence here, Mr President, reminds us of your commitment to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa. The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is a first step in that commitment. We see this as a smart and achievable vision, and we are happy to contribute to make this a reality,” he added.

The compost and recycling plant is an integrated waste processing facility set up to receive, sort, process and recycle solid and liquid waste to produce organic compost for agronomic purposes in Ghana and West Africa.

ARCP, Mr Agyepong explained, had been designed to process 600 tonnes of waste per day.

President Akufo-Addo (left) speaking to management of Accra Composit and Recycling Plant

Other visits

President Akufo-Addo also visited another subsidiary of the Jospong Group, the Zoompak Ghana Limited at Achimota in Accra, which specialises in the construction and management of waste transfer stations, collection and management of healthcare waste, among others.

The President also inspected the Lavender Hill Faecal Water Treatment Plant.