Construction and installation work will soon begin on an ultramodern wastewater treatment plant to solve the perennial faecal waste disposal problem in Kumasi and surrounding communities.
The 1,000 cubic metre plant is a joint project between Ghana and Hungary and will be executed by Sewerage Systems Ghana, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group and Pureco Limited of Hungary.
A 130-acre land has been provided by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for the 130 million-euro plant to be sited at Adegya which will have the capacity to turn waste water into compost for agricultural use.
To be funded by Hungary’s Exim Bank and the Jospong Group, the project will be based on a robust Hungarian technology to be provided by Pureco Limited, a Hungarian water resource technology engineering firm.
Upon completion next year, the plant will also serve as a research center for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and aid in research activities for innovations in waste water treatment.
Breaking the ground for the construction work to begin, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for his dedication to the plant development.
He said noted the management of the plant will be the responsibility of the Sewerage Systems Ghana.
Dr. Agyepong said feasibility studies have been completed for similar plants to be constructed in Takoradi, Tamale and Tema.
Hungarian Ambassador in Ghana, Adreas Szabo expressed delight in the partnership, describing it as the first of its kind for a Hungarian company to sign a contract with a Ghanaian company to undertake such a huge project.
The Deputy State Secretary for export development of Hungary’s ministry of foreign affairs, Isvan Joo said it will be the first waste water treatment plant to be constructed in sub-saharan African.
Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea commended Dr. Agyepong for his great vision for the country.
“One does not need the whole nation to change the nation; all you need is one man and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong is changing things in this country,” and urged Ghanaians to celebrate people like his kind
Government commitment to Sanitation
Deputy Minister of Sanitation, Michael Gyato indicated that the government has since assuming office taken steps to prioritize environmental sanitation by establishing the Ministry of Sanitation to ensure that Ghana becomes a clean nation.
He said the government is keen on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal on sanitation hence the need to bridge the huge infrastructural that exist in liquid waste treatment to help stop open defecation.
Nana Baffuor Agyei Fosu Twitwiakwa II, Anantahene and representative of the Asantehene said it was the hope of Otumfuo that ventures like this will make Kumasi the real garden city and return the city to its former glory!
He commended the Jospong Group and its founder for his vision and innovation adding, “the Asanteman council will continue to support such ventures to realise the dreams of our forefathers”.
By 3news.com|Ghana