The government of Ghana has cut the sod to mark the commencement of construction of Tamale waste treatment plant. Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Salifu Saeed represented the government and performed the ceremony.
The project has been grouped into two. Construction of Tamale waste treatment plant is expected to be completed within a period of four months while works on the liquid waste facility will be ready in 12 months’ time.
Upon completion, the latter will be capable of treating 1,000 m3 of wastewater per day in this town, whose wastewater production varies between 400 and 500 m3 per day. Effluents from surrounding towns such as Savelugu, Nantong, Tolon, Kumbumgu, and Mion, will also be handled by the future plant.
On the other hand, equipped with units for sorting and recycling solid waste and composting organic waste, the Tamale waste treatment plant will be capable of processing 200 tonnes of solid waste per day in the Northern region of the West African country. It will also provide fertilizers and compost to farmers in the region and its environs.
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Job opportunities
The project which is estimated to cost, US $23.6m is project is expected to not only help solve the waste and environment problems which often lead to health complications but also help create job opportunities for the youths in the country.
Zoomlion, the company that provides the public waste management service in several Ghanaian cities and the subsidiary of the Jospong group and also the project manager, already estimate that the project will create around 75 direct jobs and more than 200 indirect jobs.
“This intervention is a health measure to help our health status of our people, therefore, the need to work together to ensure private partnerships. It is also a benefit on the agriculture sector since part of the waste would be turned into compost to enable farmers produce more food under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme,” said Mr. Salifu.