A/R: Jospong, Hungarian Firm Join Heads To Solve Sewage Problem In Kumasi

Jospong Group's Sewerage Systems Ghana and Pureco Limited of Hungary, will soon begin work on a 1000m3 sewage plant in the Ashanti Region.

The ultra-modern waste water treatment plant to be executed between the Hungarian water resource technology engineering firm and Jospong Group, is aimed to solve perennial faecal waste disposal problem in Kumasi and surrounding communities.

In an event to break the grounds for the construction of the plant, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyepong expressed his appreciation to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his dedication to the plant development in general by releasing 130 acres of land for the construction of the facility and other related ones.

He said the plant which will be managed by Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited, will serve as a research center for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to undertake research activities for innovations in waste water treatment.

The 130 acres of land is located at Adegya near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The 13 million euros facility which is based on a robust Hungarian technology to be provided by Pureco Limited, will also have the capacity to turn waste water into compost for agricultural use.

Mr. Agyepong hinted feasibility studies have been conducted to construct similar plants in Takoradi, Tamale, and Tema.

The Ambassador of Hungary to Ghana, Adreas Szabo at the event expressed his delight for 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.

He said the project will be funded by Hungary’s Exim bank and the Jospong Group.

The Deputy State Secretary for export development of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Isvan Joo commended the project citing it as the first waste water treatment plant to be constructed in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea who spoke at the ceremony also applauded Jospong for his great vision for the country.

He said, “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.”

Government commitment to Sanitation

The Deputy Minister of Sanitation, Michael Gyato in a speech read on behalf of the substantive Minister, indicated, the government since assuming office, has taken steps to prioritise 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 gap that exists in liquid waste treatment, to help eventually stop open defecation.

Nana Baffuor Agyei Fosu Twitwiakwa II, Ananta Hene, a representative of the Asantehene, who chaired the brief ceremony said it was the hope of Otumfuo that ventures like this will make Kumasi the real garden city and return Kumasi to its former glory.

He commended the Jospong Group and its founder/Executive Chairman for is visionary innovation adding, “the Asanteman Council will continue to support such ventures to realise the dreams of our forefathers”.

Also present at the ceremony was the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, some Pembers of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives from the region, some chiefs, and representatives from the Zongo communities among others.

—Myjoyonline