The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP) are exploring potential partnerships in waste-to-energy, electronic waste management and smart urban lighting as part of efforts to promote sustainable development and improve environmental management in Accra.
The discussions began on Monday when a Chinese delegation led by CECEP Board Chairman Liao Jiasheng paid a working visit to the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, to assess investment opportunities and identify areas where the Chinese state-owned company could support the city’s development.
Welcoming the delegation, Mayor Allotey highlighted Accra’s growing infrastructure, waste management and environmental challenges, stressing the need for practical investments and timely implementation of development projects.
He said transforming the capital city would require moving beyond prolonged discussions and focusing on concrete projects that deliver measurable benefits to residents. According to him, the AMA is ready to collaborate with credible private and international partners capable of providing sustainable solutions.
The Mayor further emphasized the importance of ensuring that development partnerships remain sustainable regardless of political changes. He noted that government is a continuous process and infrastructure projects should not be abandoned whenever there is a change in political leadership.
CECEP Proposes Waste-to-Energy Investment
Mr. Liao Jiasheng outlined CECEP’s expertise in energy conservation, environmental protection, renewable energy and green infrastructure.
The company operates in areas including wastewater treatment, municipal solid waste management, solar and wind power, energy storage, environmental remediation and smart city technologies.
One of the major proposals under discussion is the development of waste-to-energy facilities in Accra. Mr. Liao revealed that CECEP currently operates 69 waste-to-energy plants in China and has proprietary grate-furnace technology for converting municipal solid waste into energy.
He said CECEP was prepared to explore the development of facilities with the AMA that could process municipal waste while generating electricity. The company also has financing capabilities and could deploy artificial intelligence and smart technologies to improve waste collection, sorting and processing.
AMA Highlights Accra’s Waste Management Challenges
The AMA Director of Waste Management, Solomon Noi, said waste management remains one of the major challenges facing Accra.
He explained that the frequent mixing of organic and inorganic waste at the source makes waste collection, recycling and treatment more difficult.
To address the problem, the Assembly has intensified public education on two-way source separation, encouraging residents to separate wet and dry waste.
The AMA is also receiving support from the African Development Bank towards the establishment of a composting facility. Other development partners are supporting efforts to introduce anaerobic digestion technology, which can convert organic waste into biogas and other useful products.
Environmental Standards to Remain a Priority
Mr. Noi stressed that any technology introduced through the proposed partnership must comply with strict environmental protection and emissions standards.
He noted that Accra’s membership of the C40 Cities network requires the city to maintain strong environmental safeguards, particularly regarding emissions from waste-to-energy facilities and flue gas management.
The proposed AMA-CECEP partnership could therefore create opportunities for improved waste recycling, renewable energy generation, smart city development, electronic waste management and cleaner urban infrastructure in Accra.
Source: newsthemegh.com