The Gambian government has commenced the development of an integrated waste management project in partnership with Zoomlion Gambia Integrated Waste Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of Ghana’s Jospong Group of Companies, in a move aimed at improving sanitation and environmental protection.
Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow described the initiative as a major milestone in the country’s efforts to modernise waste collection, processing and disposal systems.
Speaking on behalf of President Adama Barrow at the sod-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 28, he commended Jospong Group and Zoomlion Ghana Limited for investing in the country’s environmental sector.
He said the partnership would tackle persistent sanitation problems, including indiscriminate refuse disposal, insufficient collection services, overflowing dumpsites and related public health concerns.
The initiative will involve the establishment of modern waste processing facilities, including a Mechanical Biological Treatment plant, a Material Recovery Facility and transfer stations.
It will also address longstanding environmental concerns through the closure, restoration and rehabilitation of the Bakoteh and Mile 2 dumpsites.
Mr Jallow explained that the development complements ongoing government reforms, including proposed legislation on waste management and environmental protection, as well as a review of existing anti-littering regulations.
He urged residents, businesses and public institutions, particularly those within the West Coast Region and Greater Banjul Area, to adopt proper refuse disposal habits, embrace waste separation and participate in community sanitation exercises.
According to him, the programme would create employment opportunities, encourage recycling and promote innovation by turning discarded materials into valuable economic resources.
He further acknowledged the contributions of government agencies, ministries, local authorities and parliamentary committees whose consultations and technical assessments facilitated the agreement.
The Vice President specifically praised the Brikama Area Council for allocating land for the landfill facility, urging stakeholders to maintain cooperation throughout the project’s implementation.
Meanwhile, Brikama Area Council Chairman Yankuba Darboe assured the partners of the assembly’s continued support.
Representing the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA), Mahamadou Ceesay also pledged the organisation’s commitment to ensuring effective collaboration among government institutions, private investors and local communities.
He expressed appreciation to Zoomlion Ghana for bringing its expertise to The Gambia, noting that the partnership could deliver healthier communities and improve local sanitation standards.
For his part, Jospong Group Chairman, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, revealed that the agreement originated from an unexpected meeting with the Gambian Vice President at Accra International Airport.
He recounted approaching Mr Jallow after discovering his identity at the airport’s VIP lounge, where he introduced himself as an entrepreneur in the sanitation industry and proposed extending the company’s services to The Gambia.
Dr Agyepong said the Vice President welcomed the proposal and subsequently facilitated engagements with relevant officials, including the Environment Minister, paving the way for the project.
He also highlighted his personal attachment to the country, explaining that his daughter had attended law school there and had spoken positively about its peaceful atmosphere and welcoming people.
The Jospong chairman assured President Barrow and other stakeholders of the company’s determination to deliver the initiative successfully, disclosing that engineers had already arrived at the project site.
He further announced plans to provide machinery for recycling discarded vehicle tyres at the Bakoteh dumpsite, where the materials have reportedly been burnt to extract metal wires for commercial purposes.
The equipment, he explained, would grind the tyres into reusable materials for applications such as artificial turf production.
He appealed to residents involved in the practice to discontinue open burning and instead collect the tyres for processing.
Additionally, Dr Agyepong pledged to establish a sanitation park to serve as an educational centre where students could learn about waste management and environmental sustainability.
He expressed gratitude to the Gambian government for entrusting Jospong Group with the responsibility, promising that the company would deploy the necessary resources and expertise to ensure the undertaking achieves its objectives.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong