Zoomlion Ghana limited, waste management operators, said on Monday that it welcomes the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) new waste management system intended to bring sanity into waste collection and management in the city.
At a midyear press briefing in Accra on the state of the company, Acting General Manger, Lawrence Laryea, said the company would continue to render quality service in order to safeguard public health.
He said although the company was not totally on top of sanitation issues, it had contributed substantially to improving the country's
sanitation situation, which had endeared the company to foreign countries such as Angola, Guinea and Togo.
He commended the media for their criticism and support, especially in educating the public on the company's 'Keep Ghana Clean Agenda' and noted
that "The challenges of environmental sanitation are so daunting that we recognise the need to join our efforts in order to make a headway."
He said it was this public-private partnership engagement that had given birth to programmes such as Eco brigade, the Volta lake transport
Enhancement project, sanitation guards and the national forest plantation development programme.
In the spirit of partnership, he said the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP) for Metropolitans, Municipal and District assemblies, and the waste and sanitation modules of the National Youth Employment programmes were running smoothly.
Communications manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau-Orhin said the company would continue to champion the cause of a clean and healthy environment and ensure that the nation's environment was rid of filth.
She said under the new arrangement, the company was now restricted to three sub-metropolitan areas, namely Ablekuma Central and Ayawaso West and Central areas and assured new clients of reliable services with the
introduction of the company's three-wheel vehicle christened "Bola Taxi" which can have can access to remote areas.
The AMA on June 1,2010, introduced its fee and performance based solid waste collection service. In all, eleven solid waste contractors including Zoomlion have been engaged by the assembly to collect waste from specific areas in the metropolis.
Under the system, residents are to register, own bins and pay AMA approved fees to the waste management companies that have been assigned to
the various communities.
Residents in high density but low income areas would pay a monthly fee of GH� 3.30. Middle income areas would pay GH�9.00, while first class areas would pay GH�14.00.