A senior academic at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Dr Eric Boachie Yiadom, has cautioned that the government’s plan to review or decentralise sanitation contracts with Zoomlion Ghana Limited could discourage investment and destabilise the waste management sector. Speaking at the 2025 Environmental and Sustainability Summit organised by B&FT on June 24, 2025, Dr Boachie Yiadom described the move as unfair to Zoomlion, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group. “We need to understand the cycle of industry. An industry has been built to a certain standard. All we need to do is regulate and reduce monopoly if necessary,” he said. “But to decentralise and allow those without capacity to enter when huge investments have already been made is simply not fair,” he added. He noted that when Zoomlion began operations, Ghanaians dubbed it “Borla so Gyata” (Lion of the Dumps), yet over the years, it has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. “If you take away the job, what happens to the equipment and the people they’ve trained over the years?” he quizzed. Dr Boachie Yiadom argued that the waste management sector, like the oil industry, requires specialised expertise and cannot be opened up haphazardly. “You cannot just go into the waste sector without infrastructure or expertise. The industry has evolved. Government should support and modernise companies like Zoomlion, not weaken them.” He further urged government to offer fiscal incentives to businesses promoting recycling and sustainable practices. “We talk about sustainability, but are we prepared to back sustainable businesses with tax incentives? That’s what’s missing in this conversation.” Also speaking at the summit, Dr Glenn Gyimah, General Manager of the Green Transitions Office at Jospong Group, outlined the company’s ongoing pilot project on single-use plastics and PET recycling in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNIDO, and the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology. “Our plants in Accra are demonstrating how single-use plastics can be converted into pavement bricks, while PET bottles are processed into yarn and high-value fibers,” he explained. “We’ve proven that our systems work. What we need now is government commitment and assurance of environmental integrity,” Dr Gyimah added. Dr Gyimah emphasised that the waste sector is capital-intensive and needs long-term protection and partnerships. “In other countries, the private sector enjoys massive government support, including funding and regulatory protection. That’s what we need here too,” he noted. He added that Jospong is engaging local and international off-takers to strengthen Ghana’s recycling value chain. “We are not just managing waste; we are creating value. This industry needs backing, not disruption.” Opening the summit, Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed stressed the urgency of addressing plastic waste through sustainable urban practices and called for a national forum to unite polluters, producers, and policymakers. According to the World Bank, Ghana produces about 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually but recycles just 5 percent. The CSIR estimates that over 250,000 tonnes leak into the environment each year, causing severe flooding and pollution. Dr Boachie Yiadom concluded with a call for coordinated national action saying: “We must stop dumping the problem elsewhere. We need to coordinate recycling efforts and support institutions that have built expertise and infrastructure. That’s how we’ll attract more investment—not by dismantling what’s already working.” GhanaWeb Special: The gold market that fuels galamsey