Waste to Be Put to Economic Use

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development has announced that his Ministry is collaborating with the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ministry of Energy to promote the regeneration of human and other wastes for economic use.

He said they would turn the waste into substances like biogas, electricity, cooking gas, and composite/fertilizer.

The Minister said this at a press briefing at his offices in Accra yesterday to highlight the celebration of Sanitation Week, which is from September 9 to 15.

Sanitation Week aims at mobilizing Ghanaians to clear filth in their surroundings and community.

The Minister flanked by his deputies Hajia Alima Mahama and Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, announced that a South African company, World Water Collaboration Council, would arrive in the country this week to hold discussions on the way forward for the country's waste management, and utilising our domestic and factory wastes for economic application. He said the company is an expert in sanitation management and has technological experience useful for national development. The company for instance is capable of melting used tyres, rubber and other substances for bitumen or other purposes.

An officer from Water and Sanitation Programme Africa Region, World Bank has already arrived in the country to help the government solve the sanitation problem.

Mr. Baah-Wiredu said the ministry has undertaken steps to control refuse at the district level. Incinerators have been reinstalled in places like Princess Town in Ahanta West District of Western Region and Odumase Krobo in the Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region. He said all District Assemblies have been instructed to construct incinerators to check refuse mounting in their communities.

His outfit has also initiated the first phase of a pilot exercise code-named, "Clean City Contest" for selected areas which ends in December this year and awards cash to the areas that promote a high level of environmental cleanliness.

Sanitation Week would be climaxed with the inauguration of the District Assemblies throughout the country on 16th September 2002.