The European Union (EU) has handed over eight compact trucks for refuse collection for the implementation of the Holistic Reinforcement for Sustainable Development (HORESD) Project over 30 months.
It has also delivered 1,000 waste containers, comprising 400 pieces of 1,000 litres, 300 pieces of 240 litres and 300 pieces of 120 litres bins for collection of dry and wet waste source-separation to improve service delivery, particularly in the area of waste management.
Effective November 1, 2023, the equipment would be delivered to selected suburbs of Kumasi to initiate a pilot programme for waste source-separation.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has, since last year, received a €2.5 million grant under the Local Authorities Partnerships for Sustainable Cities in 2021 for the implementation of the HORESD Project being funded by the European Union.
Mr. Massimo Mina, Head of Cooperation – EU Delegation, handed over the compact trucks and waste containers to the KMA at a ceremony in Kumasi last week, which coincided with the official launch of the HORESD project, dubbed “Keep Kumasi Clean; Let’s Recycle.”
An agreement has since been signed between the KMA and Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta (MANRA) and the City of Priar on one side, and the European Union and the Ministry of Sanitation on the other.
The handing over of the equipment and signing of agreement were witnessed by H.E. Paqui Momparler, President of in Spain, Mr. Victor Constatino, Coordinator of Sanitation from the City of Priar in Cape Verde, and Mrs. Charlotte Akwaa-Adjei, Programme Manager of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.
The Chief Executive of the KMA, Mr. Sam Pyne, said the project was aimed at creating a cleaner Kumasi through recycling.
He noted that the project was a roadmap to transform Kumasi into a modern city, and urged residents to accept recycling as a way of life to bring about the needed change, thus ushering in a new era of cleanliness, sustainability and prosperity for the Garden City.
Mayor Sam Pyne expressed appreciation to the EU and MANRA for the support.
The Local Project Coordinator, Mr. Joshua Nii Noye Tetteh-Nortey, who is also the Project Officer of KMA, disclosed that the collection of dry and wet waste would take off on a pilot basis at the Central Business District at Adum.
Per the operational plans of the project, 105 locations had been identified in the Central Business District of Kumasi for the siting of waste bins at a cost of GH¢9,489,794, and others would be placed at Duase, Buokrom Estate, Krofrom, Moshie Zongo, Odumasi, Manhyia and Yenyawso, while some bins for Roman Hill and Alla Bar area would be on a pilot basis.
A composting and recycling plant would be sited in the project implementation area.
Revenue projections by the KMA indicate that about GH¢8,315,722.40 out of the total operation cost of GH¢11,015,396, including communal service, is expected to be realised from the targeted groups to support the project.
