The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) has expressed its readiness to support Ghana’s efforts to improve waste management and develop a more sustainable waste management system.
The bank’s Vice President for Operations and Secretary General, Dr Fatima Elsheikh, said waste management should be seen not only as an environmental issue but also as an opportunity to create jobs, improve livelihoods and generate economic value.
She made the remarks in Accra on Tuesday following a tour of major waste management facilities with the newly appointed Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga.
The tour included the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, the James Town Waste Transfer Station and the Kpone Landfill site.
Dr Elsheikh said the visit had given BADEA a better understanding of Ghana’s waste management system and the opportunities available for investment across the sector.
I think what I saw today is inspiring. Waste is not about actual waste. It's actually about employment opportunities that it gives to people, livelihood,” she said.
According to her, investment in waste management could create jobs while improving the quality of the environment and the lives of people living in Ghana’s cities.
She said Accra, in particular, needed a modern and efficient waste management system because of its growing importance as an economic centre on the continent.
Accra is not the capital of Ghana only. It's one of the hubs of Africa,” Dr. Elsheikh said.
She explained that improving waste management would therefore have benefits beyond sanitation, including supporting economic activity and making the city more attractive to residents, businesses and visitors.
BADEA ready to partner government
Dr. Elsheikh said BADEA was prepared to work with the Ghanaian government as it seeks financing and technical support to improve the waste management value chain.
We'll be happy to contribute as a development bank,” she said.
She said the bank recognised that transforming waste management would not be an easy task and would require cooperation between government, development partners, the private sector and citizens.
We know it's not going to be an easy journey, but it's actually a journey that involves every citizen,” she said.
Dr. Elsheikh said BADEA was particularly encouraged by the government's commitment to improving the sector and saw an opportunity to support President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for sustainable development.
I’m happy and privileged to be part of President Mahama’s vision for future sustainability in Ghana to set the model for the rest of Africa,” she said.
Government seeks financing for waste management
The engagement with BADEA forms part of efforts by the government to identify financing opportunities to upgrade Ghana’s waste management infrastructure.
Ayariga said the government was exploring ways to mobilise resources to invest in the entire waste management chain, including waste collection, transportation, transfer stations, treatment and composting facilities.
The reason why I am this morning with the Vice President of BADEA, Dr Fatima Elsheikh, and her technical team is to explore financing opportunities that exist at BADEA for us to mobilise resources to invest in the entire chain,” he said.
The Minister said the country already had much of the technology needed to improve waste management but lacked an efficiently organised system.
The infrastructure, the technology to do all this is available. A lot of it is organisational,” he said.
He said the government would therefore work with regional ministers and local authorities to develop a more coordinated approach to waste management across the country.
Waste as an economic opportunity
The engagement highlights a growing focus on treating waste as a resource rather than simply a problem requiring disposal.
Dr Elsheikh said the waste management value chain presented opportunities for employment, livelihoods and economic development.
We saw today the whole value chain,” she said, adding that the sector could benefit significantly from stronger leadership and technical support.
She said BADEA was ready to be part of the process of developing a more sustainable waste management model for Ghana.
The Minister’s visit comes shortly after his appointment as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs as part of President Mahama’s recent reshuffle.
Ayariga was subsequently vetted and approved by Parliament before being sworn into office.
His tour of the waste management facilities formed part of his early engagements to assess the challenges facing the sector and identify areas requiring urgent investment and reform.
The government is expected to continue discussions with development partners, including BADEA, on possible financing arrangements to modernise waste management infrastructure and improve sanitation in Accra and other major cities.
If you want, I can also produce a stronger business/finance angle with the headline focused on “BADEA eyes investment in Ghana’s waste management sector”, which may be more suitable for a business newspaper.
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