Extend Covid-19 relief support to us – Waste Mgt firm to govt
The impact of Covid-19 has been dire on many businesses in Ghana. Waste management companies have not been insulated from the negative effect of the pandemic on cash flow despite their crucial role in managing increasing contagious medical waste which would have a deleterious effect on the environment if mismanaged.
Ing. Immanuel B. Nartey-Tokoli, Managing Director of Jekora Ventures — a waste management company in Accra — told Kasapa News that industrial and commercial waste production has fallen drastically due to the slowdown in manufacturing activity, affecting cash flow.
"The impact has been great. In our case as Jekora Ventures, our source of funding is based on collector base principle. Government doesn't give us any money so we deliver the services and collect the revenues. Most businesses have scaled-down operations, some have closed down, and that has impacted on our cash flow and our ability to continue efficient sustainable services."
"We thought we could access the NBSSI fund but there was a limited criteria which limited our ability. The criteria were that the company must have a total staff strength of less than 100, but Jekora we are more than 200, so we could not access that support. We've been trying on our own small way, reorganizing, restrategizing and that is how we have been operating till now. I can tell you confidently that regardless of those challenges, we have not laid off any of our workers."
"In case the government is able to vary some of the criteria and we are able to access some of these incentives, we will be glad and thankful."
Major Industry Challenges
Ing. Nartey-Tokoli also listed several challenges affecting the waste management industry:
- Inadequate access to landfill sites
- Low cost-recovery fees imposed by MMDAs
- Bad attitude of waste generators
- Weak enforcement and non-compliance
- Lack of political will
- High bank interest rates
- VAT imposed on non-cost recovery services
- High import duties on essential equipment
- Unreliable waste generation data
He however stated that, despite these challenges, Jekora Ventures continues to thrive by leveraging innovation in waste management to help Ghana fix its waste management challenges.
Future Plans
The company is looking into several initiatives to trim waste into treasure:
- Setting up buy-back centers for recovered materials
- Up-scaling of a successful pilot program
- Expansion of waste segregation in schools, churches, marketplaces and corporate institutions
- Creating a green market
- Partnering with academia for research in waste management
- Influencing national policy to regulate circular economy models in the green space
The Managing Director made these remarks when executives of the Ghana Association of Assembly Members visited the company to exchange ideas on the role of stakeholders in tackling waste management challenges in the country.