The Gambia and the Jospong Group of Companies signed an MoU to implement tailored waste management solutions, promoting the notion of an “African solution to an African challenge.” Minister Manjang aims to establish a waste treatment facility within six months through a PPP. This initiative follows a delegation’s observation of Jospong’s facilities in Ghana, highlighting the importance of local solutions and private sector involvement in environmental management.
The Jospong Group of Companies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Gambia to implement tailored waste management solutions aimed at addressing environmental challenges. This initiative, termed an “African solution to an African challenge,” was spearheaded by Rohey John Manjang, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources of The Gambia, alongside Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, during a ceremony in Accra on March 3, 2025.
Minister Manjang emphasized the importance of local solutions for African issues and expressed her ambition to establish a waste treatment facility in The Gambia within six months through a Public Private Partnership (PPP). She stated, “For Africa to go forward with our limited resources, we need to be innovative in making sure that we fix our problems.”
The MoU signing follows a five-day visit by a high-powered Gambian government delegation to the Jospong Group’s waste management facilities in Ghana. Manjang highlighted the necessity of engaging the private sector, indicating her goal to have the waste management unit operational within her six-month time frame.
During her address, she asserted that the MoU marks the start of a solid framework for comprehensive waste management in The Gambia and lamented the lack of feasible solutions proposed by Western countries, suggesting that such solutions already exist within Africa. “It is doable, it is workable, it is achievable, and we can do it in The Gambia… what we saw is an all-inclusive solution, it’s from start to finish,” noted Manjang.
Manjang commended the Jospong Group for its innovative methodologies and called for collaboration and innovation to propel Africa forward, stating, “It takes a leader to design the future, and it takes the followers to reach the destination.”
In response, Joseph Siaw Agyepong attributed the success of Jospong Group to divine guidance. He emphasized the need for African nations to develop ideas and strategies rather than rely on foreign aid, citing examples of successful countries like Rwanda as models of progress through innovation.
Prior to the signing, the Gambian delegation, led by Minister Manjang, met with Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. The Minister stressed the necessity of safeguarding Ghanaian investments in The Gambia, reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations. He urged Jospong to promote corporate responsibility and ensure the safety of Ghanaians in Gambia.
Minister Muhammed pointed out Jospong’s vital role in maintaining sanitation in Ghana. He asserted that the collaboration with The Gambia could prove beneficial in addressing environmental concerns. The Gambian delegation also toured various key installations of the Jospong Group, such as recycling and composting plants, focusing on the significance of eco-friendly waste management practices amid increasing population pressures.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between The Gambia and the Jospong Group marks a significant milestone towards addressing environmental challenges through localized waste management solutions. By leveraging innovative practices and engaging in Public Private Partnerships, both nations aim to establish effective frameworks for waste management. The collaboration underscores the potential for African countries to address their challenges through homegrown solutions, fostering a spirit of cooperation essential for regional progress.
Original Source: 3news.com
