KMA to turn garbage into power

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is to sign an agreement with a US-based company to use garbage in the metropolis to generate electric power.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Metropolitan Chief Executive told the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani that negotiations are going on with the sanitation recycling technology firm in New York for the project to commence soon.


He said a site has been acquired at the Kaase industrial area in Kumasi and "we are only waiting for Cabinet's approval for the project to take off".


Mr Jumah said though the sanitation situation in the city has improved considerably, the best solution would be the recycling of waste matter for the socio-economic benefit of the two million-plus residents.


He said the project would reduce the cost of sanitation management in Kumasi by about 50 per cent. The assembly spends more than 100 million cedis monthly on sanitation and waste management.


He said the adoption of computerisation has improved the assembly's internal revenue generation mechanism tremendously, adding that towing of vehicles alone fetches 100 million cedis monthly.

Mr Jumah said there has also been a drastic reduction in expenditure, citing the allowances of the Chief Executive, assembly members and administrative staff, all of which have been reduced.


"Whilst the assembly consumed 5,000 gallons of diesel between August and December last year, only 2,800 gallons were used from January to August this year''.


The KMA boss said one of the assembly's pre-occupations is to ensure that the unit committees and town councils work effectively.


Mr Jumah said the assembly has set up a task force to rid Kumasi of illegal structures on waterways and access roads with the support of Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene.