The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), which oversees sanitation, has disclosed that the government owes Zoomlion Ghana Limited an astonishing 1.2 billion Ghana cedis for services rendered over the past two years.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim made this announcement during an interview on Adom TV in Accra, where he discussed the delays in payments to companies affiliated with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA).
He indicated that this debt, a legacy from the Akufo-Addo administration, poses a significant challenge for the current government.
Nevertheless, he emphasized the necessity of collaboration between the government and private waste management entities like Zoomlion to effectively tackle Ghana’s waste management issues.
“We are working closely with Zoomlion to confront the waste management challenges in the country, with a particular emphasis on recycling plastic waste,” he remarked.
He highlighted the importance of establishing strong partnerships with private waste management companies and praised Zoomlion for its advanced sanitation infrastructure.
According to Ahmed Ibrahim, the extensive investments made by Zoomlion in modern solid and liquid waste treatment and recycling facilities across the country are unmatched, as the government lacks similar infrastructure to manage the daily waste generated in urban areas.
“Zoomlion’s dedication to developing sophisticated waste management systems throughout Ghana is unparalleled,” stated Ibrahim Ahmed.
He acknowledged the government’s deficiency in comparable facilities, underscoring the urgent need for public-private partnerships to address sanitation challenges.
The Minister also pointed out Zoomlion’s expanded responsibilities, which now include fecal waste management.
He cautioned that a nationwide sanitation crisis could ensue if Zoomlion were to cease operations, recalling previous instances where faecal waste was indiscriminately dumped into the sea, leading to significant environmental and health risks.
He noted that Zoomlion’s liquid waste recycling facilities are currently converting sewage into compost and charcoal, in accordance with a ban on sea disposal that was implemented in 2016 by former President Dramani Mahama.
Consequently, Ahmed Ibrahim urged the government to prioritize sanitation, referencing a cholera outbreak that occurred in coastal areas such as Cape Coast, Winneba, and Takoradi on October 24, 2023, and emphasized the need for enhanced public education regarding sanitation hazards.
