Mudor waste treatment plant nears completion

By Edmund Smith-Asante & Naa Lamiley Bentil, ACCRA

The Mudor Administration Block

 Plans to decommission the infamous lavender hill are far advanced with about 85 per cent of work on the Mudor waste treatment plant completed.

200 companies save billion dollars through clean energy

By Edmund Smith-Asante, Marrakech

Mr Paul Polman, UNILEVER CEO with other speakers behind him at the forum.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UNILEVER, Mr Paul Polman, has shown the commitment of the world’s business sector to employing clean energy for a low carbon energy future, by announcing the savings that have been made in just a year.

Africa calls for action oriented climate change conference

By Edmund Smith-Asante, Tanger, Morocco

 

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI

The 22nd edition of the United Nations’ annual Climate Change conference dubbed COP 22, will be held in the North African country Morocco in November, to primarily bring into force the Paris Agreement arrived at during COP 21 in France last year.

Morocco gears up for COP 22

By Edmund Smith-Asante, Marrakech

Mr Abdeslam Bekrate addressing the African journalists at the COP 22 site in Marrakech.

 The Head of Logistics, Security and Safety at the Ministry of the Interior, Morocco, Mr Abdeslam Bekrate, has indicated Morocco’s readiness to host the 22nd United Nations Conference of Parties Climate Change Conference (COP 22) in November this year.

Ghanaian journalists tour Morocco prior to COP 22

By Edmund Smith-Asante, Rabat, Morocco

The African journalists with some key officials of COP 22 after some interactions.

Two Ghanaian journalists have participated in a tour of Morocco as part of about 26 environmental journalists from selected Africa countries ahead of the 22nd edition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) annual conference dubbed COP 22 (the 22nd Conference of the Parties Climate Change Conference) to be hosted by Morocco.

Disaster looms if Achimota Forest Ecotourism Project goes ahead — NDPC boss

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Dr Nii Moi Thompson, D-G, NDPC

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has warned that the development of the Achimota Forest into an ecotourism site, as has been proposed, will result in disastrous consequences for the country.

EPA making waves in the world of EIA

Yaw Amoyaw-Osei, IAIA President (2015-2016)

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

Impact Assessment (IA) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as it is commonly referred to in Ghana, is a process for the systematic analysis of the likely environmental, socio-economic, and cultural and health effects of a proposed development.

WRI @ 20 - The progress and challenges

By Edmund Smith-Asante 

Dr Joseph Addo Ampofo, Executive Director, CSIR-Water  Research Institute

Last week the Water Research Institute (WRI) of the Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) celebrated 20 years since its merger and growth into a very formidable water research institute in 1996.

CSIR worried over public accusation of causing fear and panic

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Mr Abe Incoom, CSIR Council Chairman,

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has made public the dilemma it often faces after it releases its scientific research findings to the public.

Jasikan wins first round of Sanitation Challenge Award Walks away with £30,000

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

A representative of the Jasikan District Assembly receiving a dummy cheque for £30,000

THE Jasikan District Assembly in the Volta Region last Wednesday walked away with £30,000, an equivalent of GH¢174,194.52 at a rate of GH¢5.8014 to £1, as winner of the first phase of the Sanitation Challenge for Ghana Award (SC4GH).

Apathy, the bane of Teshie community cleanliness

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

The Teshie Sangonaa Landing Beach from a distance

 Approaching the Teshie Sangonaa Landing Bay was a spectacular sight to behold - what some would refer to as picturesque.

Sustaining the National Sanitation Day momentum: There may be hope after all

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

Some community members clearing rubbish at the Mallam Junction on NSD

 June 4, 2016 did not only mark the 37th anniversary of the famous uprising that was to change the course of events in the country; it also marked the 19th edition of the National Sanitation Day (NSD) – which was established on November 1, 2014.

Supporting the National Sanitation Day - ESPA tricycle scheme shows the way

By Edmund Smith-Asante

 Some members of the Okaikoi South ESPA Tricycle Scheme Association working during the recent National Sanitation Day clean-up in Accra.

 About 90 operators of the Environmental Services Providers Association (ESPA) Tricycle Scheme have pledged their support to the National Sanitation Day (NSD).

National Sanitation Day exercise. How effective has it been?

By Edmund Smith-Asante

The stench of garbage fills the air as people busily collect an unsightly mix of rubbish and black water piled on the shoulders of the road into a waste truck.

AMA forms mobile unit to enforce bye-law on environmental cleanliness

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Mr Anthony Mensah, Waste Management Director of the AMA (middle) in a chat with Mr Smith-Asante (left). With them is the Operations Manager of Zoomlion Domestic Services, Mr Husein Suadiq

A unit to enforce a bye-law of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), which requires households and institutions to keep their immediate surroundings clean at all times, began operation last Saturday.

Dredge Masters takes over dredging of Odaw drain

By Edmund Smith-Asante

 

Dredge Masters Limited, a Ghanaian-owned leading provider of dredging services, has now been given the job of dredging the Odaw drain which runs through a greater part of Accra.

Zoomkids take part in quiz marking Zoomlion @ 10

By Edmund Smith-Asante

It was great fun and excitement for Zoomkids Club members when they took part in regional sanitation quiz competitions to commemorate the 10th anniversary celebration of Zoomlion Ghana Limited. 

Single cholera case, no death this year, GHS confirms

By Edmund Smith-Asante

The situation when cholera struck the country in 2014

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed that as of April 19, 2016, only one incident of cholera outbreak had been recorded in the country, with no deaths.

Experts call for innovations in agric sector

By Edmund Smith-Asante

After three days of meeting of experts in agriculture in Africa, a call has been made for innovations that will boost the sector and make the continent self-sufficient in food production.

Zoomlion Foundation initiates School Recycling

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Clean source separated water sachet bags

The plastics industry in Ghana has lately come under attack and faces extinction because of the massive pollution of the environment by its products. 

FARA to create platform to tackle aflatoxin

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

Dr Nelson Ojijo (right) being interviewed

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is to create an innovative platform for farmers in the country to tackle the problem of aflatoxin, a fungi that infects harvested cereals.

Govt calls for stakeholders’ meeting on water

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

Mr Jonny Osei Kofi

A Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Jonny Osei Kofi, has called for an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to address the water stress in the country resulting from the massive pollution of the country’s water bodies.

AUC, NPCA asked to support agric investment plans

By Edmund Smith-Asante

H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for rural economy and agriculture, AUC

Delegates at the just-ended 12th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP PP) in Accra have tasked the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Coordinating Agency (NPCA) to support the conduct of national agriculture investment plans (NAIPs) appraisals in African countries.

$100,000 award instituted for Africa’s best agriculturalist

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Olusegun Obasanjo

A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday launched a prestigious award for the most outstanding individual or institution whose contributions to African agriculture are promoting sustainable food security and economic opportunity for all Africans.

CSIR shifts attention to groundwater protection

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Mr Evans Manu

A Research Scientist at the Water Research Institute (WRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mr Evans Manu, has stated that groundwater remains the only hope for Ghana for the provision of potable water for the population as most of the country’s surface waters have been polluted.

WASCAL to train 3,000 African scientists

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Prof. Janet Olatundun Adelegan (left), the Director, Capacity Building, WASCAL, adressing a workshop in Accra.

The West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is to train about 3,000 research scientists by the year 2020.

Pollution of Ghana’s water bodies ... CSIR predicts water crisis in 2030

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Dr Joseph Addo Ampofo

Ghana has no problem with water sources, but potable water sources are diminishing at such a fast rate that the country faces a looming water crisis by the year 2030, if conditions continue to persist.

Reform in small-scale mining in the offing

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Dr Toni Aubynn (3rd- left),CEO of the Ghana Minerals Commission addressing the press on the measures to reform artisanal and small-scale mining in Accra.

The Minerals Commission has launched an initiative to train small-scale miners to run and operate their businesses along efficient management and company lines.

African agric chief directors confer in Accra

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Dr Janet Edeme (left), interaction with the Chief Director of the Ministry of Africulture, Ing Joseph Boamah (right).

A two-day meeting of chief directors of agriculture ministries in Africa on a Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and agricultural transformation has been held in Accra.

MoH to support Centre for Plant Medicine Research

By Edmund Smith-Asante

Mr Alex Segbefia, the Health Minister, listening to the Deputy Director of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), Dr Ampomah Appiah.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it will support the Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR) at Mampong-Akuapem to overcome its challenges.

Kenyatta calls for highest commitment in managing water resources

By Edmund Smith-Asante, NAIROBI

President Uhuru Kenyatta opened the 18th AfWA Congress

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has called for the highest level of commitment from African governments in the management of the continent’s water resources.

‘Lavender Hill’ to go by end of 2016 — Collins Dauda

By Edmund Smith-Asante

The use of the ‘Lavender Hill’ as a liquid waste disposal site will cease by the end of this year, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has announced.

Nsumia landfill to be decommissioned in 2017

By Edmund Smith-Asante

It is a hive of activities at the Nsumia landfill site, a spectacle of tonnes of garbage which interestingly does not emit that putrid smell associated with heaps of rubbish.

AfWA holds 18th Congress in Nairobi

By Edmund Smith-Asante, NAIROBI

The Kenyatta International Convention Centre is venue for the congress 

The African Water Association (AfWA), today officially begins its 18^th International Congress and Exhibition in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on the theme, “Sustainable Access to Water and Sanitation in Africa.”

Zoomlion Foundation sponsors 220 school kids to learn about plastic recycling

By Edmund Smith-Asante

The schoolchildren being briefed on the premises of Cyclus Plastic Recycling Company by Mr Hayford Amponsah, Administrator of the company.

A subsidiary of the Jospong Group of companies, Zoomlion Foundation, has sponsored 220 schoolchildren on a study tour to learn plastic waste source separation and recycling at the Cyclus Plastic Recycling Company at Elmina in the Central Region.

MoFA launches programme to tackle climate change

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Crops, Dr Alhassan Yakubu Ahmed launching the document

A five-year Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Action Plan has been launched by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to serve as a vehicle for the implementation of the Agriculture and Food Systems Strategies of the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) from 2016 to 2020.

Rewarding excellence in liquid waste management :MMDAs to compete for sanitation prize

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA



Operators of the cesspit emptiers work without protective gear

A whopping £1.43 million (GH¢8.44 million) is up for grabs by 139 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), which excel in designing and implementing liquid waste management strategies from now up to December 2018.

Ghana-China bilateral trade to soar: More investments in sanitation to make Ghana leading player in Africa

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA



The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong, has stated that bilateral trade between Ghana and China will hit six billion dollars by close of the year, from last year’s figure of $5.6 billion.

Non-revenue water, major problem of utilities

By Edmund Smith-Asante, NAIROBI

Unaccounted for water has been identified as a major challenge of utility companies in Africa.

Unaccounted for water has been identified as a major challenge of utility companies in Africa, with developing countries losing an estimated 45 million m3 (45 billion litres) of water daily through leakages enough to serve nearly 200 million people.

Private sector pushes for more say:In managing sanitation

By Edmund Smith-Asante, ACCRA




The discussants at the dialogue are from left, Mr David Duncan, UNICEF Chief of WASH, Mr Joseph Agyepong, President of ESPA; Mr Edward Effah, Managing Director, Fidelity Bank and Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, Managing Director, GCGL.

Stakeholders in the sanitation sector have pushed for more involvement of private companies in the decision-making process in the sector, saying that a partnership among the private sector, the government and the partners is the best way to ensure progress in the sector.