SWAGH International Waste Conference Tackles Africa’s Waste
The Solid Waste Association of Ghana (SWAGH), Ghana’s chapter of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), hosted the maiden SWAGH international waste conference to tackle Africa’s waste management challenges.
Ernest Kusi, SWAGH President, stressed the need for local solutions. “We need African solutions to tackle Africa’s waste management challenges,” he said. The conference offered a platform for stakeholders to discuss financing, innovations, and public-private partnerships.
Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, highlighted the need for sustainable funding. Through a statement read by Dr. Alexander Kumi Larbi Jnr, he said, “We must develop innovative ways to ensure sustainable funding for waste treatment across Africa.” He suggested global models, such as the UK’s council tax system, as examples.
Deji Fawole, President of ISWA’s African Regional Chapter, urged stakeholders to focus on context-specific solutions. “Let’s talk, collaborate, and find solutions,” he said.
The three-day conference, themed “Charting Africa’s Path to a Wasteless Future: Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Waste Management,” brought together experts from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany, and Belgium. Sessions focused on financing, waste generation, and infrastructure development, emphasizing innovative and sustainable practices.
By hosting the event, SWAGH and ISWA Africa reinforced their commitment to sustainable waste management in Ghana and across Africa. Kusi concluded: “Where there is a will, there is a way. When governments commit to solving the problem, we can solve it.”
The conference highlighted that managing waste is not an expense—it is an investment in public health, economic growth, and a better future for all Africans.
Source: Graphic Online
