The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad, has embarked on a tour of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the plastic waste management sector.
Among the companies visited during the tour include, Universal Plastic Products and Recycling Ghana Limited (UPPR), a member of the Jospong Group of Companies, and Nelplast Eco Ghana Limited.
The Minister’s tour to SMEs in Ghana’s plastic waste management sector aims to facilitate the government’s provision of grants to these companies.
To ensure that the grants are utilized effectively, the Minister cannot merely approve the funding from his office. Instead, he must conduct site visits to assess the companies’ operations and needs firsthand.
This hands-on approach enables the Minister to make informed decisions about grant allocation, promoting transparency and accountability in the process. By engaging directly with the SMEs, the Minister can identify the most critical areas requiring support and tailor the grants to address these specific needs.
The minister emphasized that the government’s grant allocation will enable plastic companies to boost productivity and create more job opportunities, aligning with the government’s vision of a 24-hour economy.
According to him, the move is part of the government agenda of the circular development project by president John Dramani Mahama led administration by ensuring plastic waste is converted into domestic and commercial purposes.
The Lawmaker of Tamale stressed the importance of consensus in addressing waste management issues in Ghana, highlighting the alarming fact that only 10% of the country’s plastic waste is currently being recycled for other purposes.
The General Manager of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Clinn Kwabena Gyima, expressed optimism about the impact of a $410,000 grant on the company’s recycling operations.
According to Dr. Gyima, the grant will enable the company to acquire more recycling machines, creating more job opportunities for Ghanaians and contributing to the growth of the Ghanaian economy. “The grant will be used to purchase equipment for recycling PET bottles, Dr. Gyima noted.”
Source: Bernard K Dadzie/Greater Accra Region
