Parliamentary Committee lauds Zoomlion’s role in sanitation

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources has lauded Zoomlion Ghana Limited for its outstanding contributions to improving sanitation infrastructure and waste management in the country, following a working visit to the company’s Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) at Adjen-Kotoku on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Led by its Chairman, John Oti Bless, the committee’s visit formed part of efforts to identify practical solutions to Ghana’s sanitation challenges. The committee members also inspected other facilities, including the Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), which operates under Zoomlion’s parent company, the Jospong Group.

“I am truly impressed by the level of investment that has gone into these major companies,” Hon. Oti Bless told journalists after the tour. “Zoomlion’s infrastructure and operations are not only impressive but evidence that the capacity to manage Ghana’s sanitation challenges already exists.”

The Chairman, however, lamented the government’s failure to meet its financial obligations to service providers, revealing that the state currently owes Zoomlion over GH₵1.2 billion in arrears. “How can a company function effectively without resources?” he questioned. He indicated that the Ministry of Finance has earmarked GHS 13 billion in the 2025 budget to settle debts owed to sanitation service providers and expects swift action.

Oti Bless also advocated for the establishment of a dedicated sanitation fund, arguing that a fixed percentage of the sanitation and energy levy should be channelled into sanitation improvement. “Sanitation is a daily necessity that requires a dedicated source of funding. If 40 pesewas is being raised through the levy, 20 pesewas should go to sanitation,” he proposed.

The MP for Nkwanta North further called for enhanced public education, media partnerships, and enforcement of local sanitation bye-laws. “Many district assemblies’ bye-laws are not gazetted, making them unenforceable,” he explained. “We need to fix this and work with the media to launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public.”

He praised Zoomlion’s innovation, particularly its ventures into local production of tricycles, furniture, and waste processing systems. “We urge Ghanaians and civil society to support and buy local products from Zoomlion. This fight is about public health, not politics,” he said.

In an earlier presentation, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, called on Parliament to ensure strict enforcement of sanitation and environmental bye-laws. “What we do here goes beyond just cleaning,” he said. “We are tackling cholera, environmental degradation, and even enhancing tourism, all while improving sanitation infrastructure.”

Agyepong also appealed to the government to consider reducing import taxes on essential sanitation equipment. “The work we do often lacks the recognition and support it deserves,” he lamented. “We are currently in discussions about taxes on some of our equipment, and we urge the committee to take up this matter.”

He reiterated the importance of continued support for Zoomlion’s initiatives. “With the right backing, we can achieve much more in improving Ghana’s sanitation landscape,” he added.

As the tour concluded, Oti Bless reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to driving tangible improvements in sanitation. “We have hit the ground running, and we will not stop until the right things are done,” he said.