President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the commencement of the construction of the Sekondi-Takoradi solid and liquid waste facility, estimated to cost 60 million Euros, in Asaakae in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA), Western Region.
The project, which is going to be executed by waste management expert, Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), and its partners–Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), Pureco and Komptech—would serve over 2 million people in EKMA.
Speaking at a colourful but brief ceremony yesterday, President Akufo-Addo reiterated that the issue of sanitation was very important to his government.
“That is why the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources was set up and mandated to ensure proper sanitation across the country,” he said.
The EKMA solid and liquid waste treatment facilities, he said, was a testimony of the good relations between the government and the private sector.
“It is in line with my government policy of creating an enabling environment for the private sector to bridge the infrastructure gap,” the President said.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the project when completed will help reduce the high rate of plastic and other solid waste.
“Equally important is the fact that it will provide jobs for the people, potable water, good roads, which will help improve the water and sanitation situation in the municipality,” he said.
He urged the relevant state institutions to ensure that the construction of the project is carried out to the right specifications.
To this end, the President commended Jospong Group of Companies for its partnership with the government to improve sanitation in the country.
He again applauded the company, particularly for helping in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.
“Indeed, your efforts in the fight against COVID-19 are a patriotic intervention,” he expressed.
The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, explained that the two waste treatment facilities will help improve and sustain the gains made in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) space.
She said her ministry over the last three-and-a-half years had enjoyed a fruitful relation with members of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Ghana.
For his part, the Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, described the project as a huge one which would provide jobs to over 250 people.
While praising the President for gracing the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, disclosed that the project will sit on a 200-acre land.
He went on to add that it would comprise a 400-ton solid waste recycling and composting plant, 1000 cubic metres waste water treatment facility to serve about 2 million people and a staff quarters that would accommodate 250 staff members.
Other facilities are a training and research centre laboratory and 7.5 kilometre road from Asaakae to the site, he said.
“When completed, it will create about 250 jobs for the indigenous and indirect jobs of 1500.”
According to Dr Siaw-Agyepong, both treatment facilities would be completed within 11 months.
“The solid waste treatment will be completed by three months and the liquid waste treatment will be completed by eight months,” he revealed.
By Times Reporter, Asaakae
