By: Alex Adi
JOSPONG Group is replicating its African tailored waste management solution in the GAMBIA. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) with the Environment Ministry of the GAMBIA. The move has been described as an “African solution to an African challenge.”
The signing ceremony was led by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang and Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, at a brief but significant ceremony in Accra on Monday, March 3, 2025.
According to Madam Manjang, there was the need for Africa to devise homegrown solutions to its challenges. She stated that, her ambition to build a waste treatment plant in The Gambia within six months through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“I know, for Africa to go forward with our limited resources, we need to be innovative in making sure that we fix our problems. We cannot just say that we do not have money,” she said.
The agreement follows a five-day duty tour of Waste Management facilities owned by the Jospong Group in Ghana. It was a high-powered 12-Member Gambian delegation led by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources as well as Members of their National Assembly (Parliament), Council Members and technical team from their National Environment Agency.
The minister explained that, “governments cannot do things alone and must bring the private sector on board. “…that was why I set for myself a 6-months target that up to June, to build a waste management unit with PPP for The Gambia,” she noted.
Hon. Manjang assured that the signing of the MoU marked the beginning of a concrete roadmap for implementing a comprehensive waste management solution for the Gambia.
“What we saw this past three days was amazing; it broke our heart for the simple reason that I could not have imagined the solution that the Western countries and institutions proposed with its inherent debt was right here with us in Africa, which does not require much feasibility because this is an African made solution”
Hon. Manjang commended the Jospong Group for their innovative approaches and highlighted the Group’s comprehensive and entrepreneurial spirit.
For his part, the Executive Chairman of JGC, Dr. Jospeh Siaw Agyepong, attributed the progress of his group to divine orchestration. He shared his encounter with the Vice President of The Gambia, which led to the MoU signing. “When ideas marry strategy, the product is money, so money is the son of strategy and ideas. What we need in Africa is ideas and strategy, not money.” he said
Dr. Siaw Agyepong emphasized that, Africa’s reliance on foreign aid had hindered its progress. He cautioned “If over the years, we’ve been happy with grants and loans, today Donald Trump has told us that we should go and develop our minerals.”
He encouraged Africa to take charge of its development, citing examples of countries like Rwanda that had made significant progress through determination and innovation.
He expressed optimism about the project’s potential for success in The Gambia, urging Gambians to work together to achieve their goals.
