The newly commissioned Mankessim Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in the Central Region is expected to generate approximately $750,000 in carbon credits, providing significant benefits to both the state and the operating company.
The revenue will be reinvested in the plant's future expansion and used to support other sectors of the economy.
Officially commissioned on Thursday, October 10, 2024; the facility features both an Integrated Solid Waste Treatment Plant (IRECOP) and a Medical Waste Treatment unit.
At the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies underscored the growing economic value of waste. "Waste is no longer disposable; it has become a valuable resource and should not be discarded indiscriminately," he stated, stressing the importance of innovative waste management practices.
Hon. Seyram Alhassan, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, praised the project as a testament to the government's commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable Ghana.
She highlighted the plant's advanced technology that converts waste into useful products like compost and plastic pellets, and she commended its contribution to over 700 direct and indirect jobs in the Central Region.
His Eminence Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, Paramount Chief of the Mankessim Traditional Area, expressed his delight with the facility, noting that the compost generated will help Mankessim develop into an agro-processing hub, fulfilling a long-term vision of local traditional leaders. "Thirty years ago, I prayed for a facility like this to address our waste challenges. Today, that prayer has been answered," he shared.
Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized the plant’s crucial role in environmental and climate protection, adding that the project held personal significance due to her late husband’s involvement.
Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye welcomed the medical waste treatment facility, which will process up to 9,600kg of hazardous waste daily and create about 300 employment.
The Mankessim plant is one of 16 waste management facilities across Ghana, with its medical waste unit forming part of a network of 14 similar facilities.
These projects are critical for addressing the nation’s waste challenges, while also driving economic growth and job creation.
Credit: Eric Asante