A delegation of members of the Parliamentary Press Corps has embarked on a media tour of Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s (ZGL) state-of-the-art facilities in Accra.
The tour on Wednesday March 19, which formed part of Zoomlion’s engagement with the media, afforded the delegation insight of the company’s operations.
The team’s first stop was Sewage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), where the General Manager, Lola Asiseh Ashitey, briefed them on her company’s operations.
She detailed how the company, established in 2017, has revolutionised wastewater treatment in Ghana.
“Before our establishment, wastewater was discharged directly into the sea. Today, we treat wastewater from homes, process faecal waste, and operate six treatment plants in locations like Lavender Hill, Kotoku, Kumasi, and Takoradi. Our goal is to have treatment plants in all 16 regions of Ghana,” she recounted.
Beyond waste treatment, the company maximises its by-products.
Solid waste is converted into charcoal and compost, while liquid waste is repurposed for irrigation.
“The company also utilises by-products from waste treatment. Solid waste is processed into charcoal and compost, while liquid by-products are used for irrigation purposes. Our core aim is to ensure the proper disposal of both solid and liquid waste while promoting reuse for environmental sustainability,” she said.
Currently, she pointed out that only 5% of Ghana was connected to a sewage system, with areas included such as Cantonments, Parliament, Akosombo, parts of Osu, and sections of the University of Ghana.
Ms. Ashitey however, highlighted key challenges, including solid waste clogging sewage pipes, high operational costs due to corrosion from the sea breeze, and delayed government payments.
Despite these challenges, she said SSGL remained committed to Ghana’s “24-hour economy” initiative, with Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, spearheading efforts to expand operations across the country and beyond.
Next, the media team visited the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), where the Assistant Plant Manager, Benjamin Asante-Ayeh, walked journalists through the facility’s operations.
According to him, ACARP processes municipal solid waste, recover plastics, rubber, and organic materials, with an impressive 70% recycling rate, adding that the plant produces organic compost for farmlands and manufactures items like dustbins and buckets from recycled plastics.
“At ACARP, we cherish waste because we see it has a potential. With the right interventions, we can transform discarded materials into valuable, reusable products,” Mr. Asante-Ayeh indicated.
Government support, he said, has helped reduced some operational costs, “but more investment was needed.”
The company has also established Integrated Recycling and Compost Plants (IRECOPs), smaller recycling facilities across Ghana, and was expanding operations into Africa, he added.
Speaking to the media, the Managing Director of ACARP, Michael Padi Tuwor, revealed that the company was strengthening partnerships with other African countries, including Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria.
“Our mission is to transform waste management across the continent. Though public sensitisation is still low, we are seeing progress as more Ghanaians recognize the importance of proper waste disposal,” Mr. Tuwor noted.
In this regard, he encouraged Ghanaians to store waste properly for collection instead of indiscriminate disposal, helping to create a cleaner, and more sustainable future.
From ACARP, the Parliamentary Press Corps visited Zoomlion’s Transfer Station at Pantang-Abokobi.
At this facility, waste is collected and sorted before being transported to landfill sites.
The purpose of the transfer station is to cut down transportation costs by reducing the distance waste travels to landfills.
Instead of small waste transport vehicles going directly to landfill sites, they bring waste to this transfer station, where it is sorted and consolidated.
The Operations Supervisor, Cephas Awuku, briefed the media on the operations at the facility
He explained that tricycles transporting waste to the station have been registered to ensure an organized and efficient process.
For her part, the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, ZGL, Madam Emma Adwoa Appia Osei-Duah, thanked the media for availing themselves with her outfit’s facilities in Accra.
She reiterated Zoomlion’s commitment to keeping the environment clean and safe.
She used the opportunity to call for stricter enforcement of environmental bye-laws to support waste management initiatives and strengthen government partnerships.
She also stressed the importance of waste bins in households, urging citizens to take care of them to prevent loss or misuse.
“We all generate waste, which is why we must ensure proper disposal. When we work together, we can create a cleaner and healthier environment. Zoomlion and its sister companies remain committed and ready to achieve this goal,” she assured.
