Gambiaj.com – (Accra, Ghana) – The Gambia has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana’s Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) to replicate its African-tailored waste management solution in the country. The initiative, hailed as an “African solution to an African challenge,” aims to establish a comprehensive waste management system in The Gambia through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

The agreement was formalized in Accra by The Gambia’s Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Honourable Rohey John Manjang, and JGC’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a brief but significant ceremony.

A Bold Step Towards Waste Management Reform

Hon. Manjang emphasized the need for African nations to create homegrown solutions to their challenges, revealing her ambition to establish a waste treatment plant in The Gambia within six months.

“I know, for Africa to go forward with our limited resources, we need to be innovative in making sure that we fix our problems. We cannot just say that we do not have money,” she asserted.

The signing followed a five-day duty tour by a high-powered 12-member Gambian government delegation, including National Assembly members, local council representatives, and technical experts from The Gambia’s National Environment Agency. The delegation visited Jospong’s waste management facilities in Ghana, assessing their viability for The Gambia.

Hon. Manjang underscored the necessity of private-sector involvement in addressing national challenges. “Governments cannot do things alone. That was why I set for myself a six-month target—up to June—to build a waste management unit with PPP for The Gambia,” she stated.

Reflecting on the tour, she expressed surprise at the effectiveness of Ghana’s waste management model compared to costly foreign-proposed alternatives. “What we saw these past three days was amazing. It broke our hearts because the solutions that Western institutions proposed—often leading to debt—were right here in Africa,” she lamented.

Despite anticipating possible challenges, she remained optimistic. “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, from start to finish,” she affirmed.

Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of JGC, credited divine orchestration for his company’s progress and recounted a pivotal meeting with The Gambia’s Vice President that led to the MoU.

Dr. Agyepong expressed confidence in the project’s success in The Gambia and urged Gambians to unite in achieving their waste management goals.

Strengthening Ghana-Gambia Relations and Protecting Investors

Before the MoU signing, The Gambian delegation, led by Hon. Manjang, paid a courtesy visit to Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Honourable Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

Hon. Murtala Muhammed underscored the importance of protecting Ghanaian investors in The Gambia, emphasizing the historical ties between the two nations.

“The relationship between Ghana and Gambia predates independence. Our former Presidents, Kwame Nkrumah and Sir Dawda Jawara, were friends and comrades in the struggle for independence,” he noted.

He stressed that investor confidence is crucial for economic collaboration. “Investments will only flow when investors feel safe and their investments are secured,” he stated.

The minister urged Jospong to be a responsible corporate entity in The Gambia. “You are not just representing Jospong Group, but Ghana. Your operations should promote Ghana, and we will ensure that you do not embarrass Ghana because the country’s image is on the line,” he cautioned.

Hon. Manjang acknowledged the environmental challenges both nations face and the need for joint efforts. “We have a lot in common with Ghana, and we believe that by working together, we can find solutions to our environmental challenges,” she said.