The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Mahama Ayariga has advocated increased private participation in Waste Management in Ghana.
Speaking after a tour of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant the Minister stressed the need for technological advancement in managing the country’s waste which continues to be a burden on government.
He also identified the importance of innovative projects aimed at sustaining a clean and healthy environment.
The Minister who was in the company of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Daniel Amlalo, and some other stakeholders in the sector visited the plant to familiarize himself with operations of the company.
The visit also enable the Minister and his entourage to understand the various roles the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) has played in the overall waste management process in selected MMDA Greater Accra, especially servicing the Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA), Ga South, Ga Central, Ga West, Ga East, La Dade-Kotopon, Ledzokuku-Krowor, Adenta, and Akuapim South (Eastern Region) over the past three years of its inception.
The Minister was also conducted round the on-going state-of-the-art faecal waste Treatment Plant which is 80% complete and expected to be commissioned by close of the year 2015.
This plant when completed, according to the Managing Director of ACARP Dr. Richard Amponsah will receive over 1,000m3 (100 trucks) liquid waste from various MMDAs as earlier mentioned which would have otherwise been discharged directly into the sea.
The strategic project would assist in addressing a lot other sanitary related diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, etc.
The addition gain to the project is also as learning centers for students (ranging from primary to the university level), researchers, policy makers and the media.
This would generate about two hundred (200) additional Jobs into the local economy.
The integrated facility is designed to host treatments plants that include: Sorting Plant, Composting Plant, Plastic recycling, Feacal waste treatment, Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) productions, Waste to Energy (Biogas and Thermal derived energy); and a residual section.
Presently ACARP is processing and producing Compost, Recyclables, Plastic pellets, RDF which are solid locally and also exported. Currently, ACARP is the largest producer of compost in Ghana.
Dr. Amponsah revealed the company’s plans of producing waste bins and recreational furniture from the recovered plastics from the waste stream of the municipal solid waste received at the site. The facility’s machinery and equipment had been received and were being installed at the time of the visit.
He said “in spite of the challenges in the past three years of operation, ACARP has expanded its operations to fully integrate waste management processes in the country especially in Accra”.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Mahama Ayariga commended Management of ACARP for the immense contributions at sustaining the environment with its simple and innovative facilities.
He urged Management of the facility to continue with the good works and strive to bring various innovative projects into operation to help create a better Ghana for all.
The minister Indicated that companies working to solve environmental challenges in Ghana, could always count on his support.
Hon. Ayariga (standing far left) in a discussion with ACARP officials at the site