The Sekondi-Takoradi Faecal Sludge Management Plant at Sofokrom-Essipon has been commissioned.
The 20 million Euro facility was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Speaking during the occasion, Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah stated that prior to the installation of the plant, just 10% of the region’s faecal waste was treated.
He revealed that 90% of the faecal waste collected in the region was discharged into the environment untreated.
The Minister stated that the new facility will supplement the present one, which he stated is overstressed.
He described the region as Ghana’s third most densely inhabited city, with an annual average growth rate of 3.2%.
The waste disposal site at Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis area which is located at Sofokrom-Essipon hosts both the waste water and municipal solid waste sites.
Mr Darko-Mensah said the facility is aimed at improving the environmental conditions of the city.
The Plant has a design capacity of 1000m3/day with an average of 100 trucks visiting the plant daily.
The facility will also serve as a learning and research facility for professionals and students in the region.
“It will also decrease the level of contamination in the ground and surface water, achieve good hygiene conditions as well as create employment for the teeming youth in the region,” he stated.
On his part, Hon. Joseph Cudjoe, Minister of State Enterprises and Member of Parliament for Efia Constituency, has stated that the government will continue to create an enabling climate for businesses and investors to grow to create jobs.
According to him, investors from all over the world can utilise Ghana as a springboard through the African continental free trade zone to expand their investment to other African countries.
The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyepong told the gathering that the project was inspired by the President’s vision of making the country the neatest in Africa.
He commended the regional minister and the former sanitation minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah for their contribution towards the project.
“Private businessmen need people who encourage and exhibit exemplary leadership and you have encouraged me to do more. God bless you for the tremendous leadership support,” he said.
The State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary, Mr. Tristan Azbej, posited that the commissioning of the project is a means to celebrate a remarkable partnership between Ghana and Hungary.
“It’s an achievement based on fellowship and professional commitment of both countries. Through this partnership we are inaugurating the facility built on Hungarian technology,” he noted.
The facility is expected to employ about 300 direct workers.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana