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Jospong breaks into Africa… signs deal to build waste treatment plants in Lagos State, Nigeria
The Jospong Group of Companies (JCG) has entered into agreement with the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to build waste treatment plants in Lagos, Nigeria.
The integrated waste treatment facility will help to transform the environmental situation of Africa’s most populous city.
The landmark agreement was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Jospong Group of Companies led by its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong and the Honourable Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab in Lagos on Monday February 26, 2024.
The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a remark, assured that, JCG is in Nigeria to help the State and also share knowledge and expertise in waste management and treatment.
“We have learned a lot of lessons from Ghana and we are here to share our technical and operational expertise to help improve the sanitation landscape of Lagos State,” he emphasised.
The Executive Chairman also assured the upstream operators (collectors) of Lagos that the company will partner and collaborate with them as well as support them with equipment to make their work much more effective and efficient.
The Lagos State Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, noted that by the agreement, Lagos State is showcasing its commitment to a crucial aspect of environmental services through a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
“We are utilising a PPP arrangement to address our waste management challenges effectively,” he stated.
He noted that the arrangement also includes exploring ways to convert its waste into valuable resources.
“Our goal is a cleaner, greener and prosperous Lagos. And we are fostering a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive,” he stated.
He was of the view that Lagos State must find value in its waste instead of wasting it.
The Consul General of the Ghana Consulate in Lagos, HE Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari, asured the partners, Jospong Group and the Lagos State Environment and Water Resources of her support to ensure the success of the partnership.
Per the MoU, Jospong Group will establish a Material Recovery Facility; Mobile Transfer loading stations; Repurposing of current Olusosun landfill, Supply of self-tipping tricycles; and Bin manufacturing and plastic recycling plant to streamline recyclable activities.
Additionally, this proposed well proven sustainable solution to environmental sanitation will go a long way to boost Nigeria’s carbon ratings to enable it raise needed funds to build more sustainable infrastructure.
According to a report by the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, Lagos State produces approximately 13,000 tons of waste per day.
The consequences of poor sanitation are dire, ranging from the spread of waterborne diseases to environmental degradation, and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable segments of our society, including women, children, and the elderly.
In Ghana, JCG has established 58 sustainable sanitation infrastructures for liquid, medical, plastics, and municipal solid waste including 16 integrated recycling and compost plants. These plants produce compost which is also helping to boost the agricultural sector of the economy.
The Jospong Group delegation included the Executive Director of the Processing Cluster of the Jospong Group, Mr Haidar Saed, advisory Board Members of Group, Madam Gifty Boi-Bi-Boi, Mr. Emmanuel Otchere Okomeng, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer-JCG, Madam Sophia Kudjordji, head of legal, Madam Gloria Boafo -Arthur Benneh, the MD of Sewage Systems Ghana, Mrs. Florence Cobbold, Managing Director at Waste Landfills Company Limited, Mr. Peter Dagadu, and some other members.
The Nigerian delegation which was led by the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources also consisted of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi Akodu,
The Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services & Water Resources, Ing. Mahamood Olakunle Adegbite, the General Manager, Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LASWAMO), DR. Ign Femi Afolabi and the National executives of the association of Waste Managers of Nigeria.
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
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Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
