Member of Parliament for Manso-Adubia in the Ashanti Region, Frimpong Yaw Addo, has lauded the Jospong Group for its huge investment in the country’s waste management, environment and sanitation industry.
Mr Addo who is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, was impressed with the contribution of the company in the sector, and urged political leadership and stakeholders to support the Jospong Group to do more in addressing the sanitation and waste management challenges.
The group, chaired by Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, operates the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP), Sewerages Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL) and Zoomlion among other companies in and outside Ghana.
Addressing journalists after a visit to IRECOP and SSGL by a joint parliamentary committee, the MP underscored the need to support Jospong in addressing the country’s waste and sanitation challenges.
Members of the Sanitation and Water Resources, Environment, Science and Technology, as well as the Local Government, Works and Housing committees have been touring major waste management facilities and landfill sites across the country to ascertain their conditions.
Their tour is on the back of recent intermittent fire outbreaks at the Kpone landfill which has become a public health threat.
Mr Addo also proposed an increment in the Value Added Tax (VAT) to cater for the teething sanitation challenges confronting the country.
“I am proposing that if we add some small percentage on the VAT for sanitation, I don’t think any Ghanaian will kick against that idea,” he stated.
General Manager of IRECOP, Ms Betty Brown Nyadu who conducted the MPs through the work flow at IRECOP said the facility charges very little for waste brought in, noting the amount is far below the world bank recommended fee of $30 for managing a ton of waste.
“The tipping fee we charge is so little that it does not cater for our operational cost”, she pointed out.
She was hopeful that government will intervene to make waste management more sustainable and effective in the country.
By 3news.com|Ghana