Ghana to import garbage… As Canadians inspect landfill site

MR. MAXWELL Kofi Jumah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Science and Environment and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa constituency in the Ashanti Region, has hinted that the country would import garbage to augment the new technology of transforming waste to energy, which is scheduled to take place early next year.

According to him, the project, which would cost the country $250 million after completion, will provide Kumasi and its environs 50 megawatts of energy for the next fifteen years.

He said this in a meeting with the community leaders, after EITI Limited, a Canadian-based company, had inspected the landfill site at Atonsu-Dompoase last Thursday.

He stated that since the waste in the country was insufficient to provide the company with the requisite quantity, which is needed to commence operations with modern technology, the government is making the necessary arrangements with other countries, to import junk to the country for the commencement of the project.

He also disclosed that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would not stop collecting money for the disposal of waste, and would not buy the garbage from anyone, even when the country needed it, but rather residents would continue to pay for rubbish they give to the KMA for disposal.

He further stated that not only was the new technology going to improve the energy system in the city, but also going to serve as a tool of employment for the youth, since the company had been mandated to work collaboratively with the local engineers, and also teach the university students in the country how the new technology is operated. He again said labourers would be employed at the landfill site.

He also revealed that roads leading to the site would also be constructed, because not only was the project going to be beneficiary to its neighbours, it was also going to serve as a tourist attraction, since it is the first in West Africa.

Mr. Roy Duodu Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EITI Company, who is also the brain behind the project, said the project was in two phases, where the phase one would see engineers transform the waste into pellets, in order to remove the bad odour, so as not to pollute the surrounding communities.

He revealed that the second phase of the project would see the engineers use the pellets as a source of generator for the main project to commence.

He said the communities which would be affected are Kuwait, Oti, Abrabo and Dompoase. “We are passionate of the environment, and the communities are assured of 99.99% clean air and water”.