Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that the government is currently in arrears of a staggering GH¢1.2 billion for waste management services provided by Zoomlion Ghana Limited over the past two years.
Speaking in an interview on Adom TV in Accra on April 1, 2025, the Minister disclosed that the debt, inherited from the previous Akufo-Addo administration, remains a major concern for the current government.
He explained that the debt covers unpaid services to firms under the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), with Zoomlion being the most impacted.
“I have discussed this issue with the Minister of Finance, and it has been confirmed that the state owes Zoomlion GH¢1.2 billion for waste management services that have not been paid for,” Ahmed Ibrahim said.
Despite the growing financial pressure, Ibrahim emphasised the critical role of private companies like Zoomlion in Ghana’s waste management sector and stressed the need for closer collaboration to address the country’s sanitation challenges, particularly in plastic waste recycling.
“We are actively working with Zoomlion to solve the waste management issues across the country. Their cutting-edge infrastructure is essential in handling solid and liquid waste, and they have a crucial role to play, especially in recycling plastic waste,” the minister noted.
Ibrahim lauded Zoomlion for its substantial investments in modern waste treatment and recycling facilities, which he described as unmatched in the country.
He also highlighted that the government lacks the infrastructure necessary to deal with the growing volume of municipal solid and liquid waste, which puts even more pressure on private sector involvement.
“Zoomlion has made huge strides in building advanced waste management systems, but without them, we would be ill-equipped to manage Ghana’s waste problems. Their work in faecal waste management, in particular, has been indispensable,” Ahmed Ibrahim stated.
The minister also warned of a potential nationwide sanitation crisis if Zoomlion were to cease operations.
He recalled the negative environmental and health consequences of improper waste disposal practices, particularly the direct dumping of faecal waste into the sea, a problem that has been largely mitigated by Zoomlion’s liquid waste recycling plants.
“Zoomlion’s plants now process sewage into compost and charcoal, aligning with the ban on sea disposal introduced by former President John Dramani Mahama in 2016,” Ahmed Ibrahim explained.
The minister further urged the government to prioritize sanitation, especially in light of the cholera outbreak that struck coastal regions, including Cape Coast, Winneba, and Takoradi, on October 24, 2023.
SSD/MA
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