The Jospong Group of Companies says it is moving into Nigeria and Liberia as part of its objectives to go international and consolidate its presence on the African continent.
This will bring to seven the number of African countries it has established its presence, having set up in Angola, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Zambia and Togo.
“We are proud to say that by the glory of the Almighty God, we have established our presence in other African countries, such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Zambia, Togo, and we are about to go into Liberia and Nigeria,” the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, said in his welcome address at the Seventh Jospong Leadership Conference at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.
Conference
The leadership conference, which is on the theme: “Jospong: Building the future together”, is being attended by over 1,000 management level staff made up of board members, executives, senior management and supervisory staff across the Jospong Group.
It is held at the beginning of every year to enable management to strategise for the year and among others, equip participants with the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant for personal and corporate growth.
Investment
Dr Agyepong noted that the company last year invested close to $200 million in environmental sanitation alone and was going to step up its activities this year to do more.
He said the company was going to set up one compost recycling plant in each of the 16 regions by July this year.
He said, for instance, a 1,200-tonne of waste compost recycling plant would be completed by the end of January in Kumasi this year and would employ about 500 people.
“Similarly facilities are going to be constructed in the other 14 regions. The equipment has been procured already and being shipped into the country. So by the end of July, we will have one region, one compost recycling plant in the country,” he said.
The executive chairman said the initiative was the company’s solution to the landfill situation which was gradually becoming a menace by posing health challenges to communities.
Completion
When completed, Dr Agyepong said, the facilities would generate more than 2,500 jobs cross the country.
He indicated that Zoomlion had the men to deal with the issue of waste in the country. Out of the about 45,000 employees, he said there were 10 PhD holders, uncountable Masters degree holders and engineers, among other personalities equipped with the skills and knowledge to help deal with sanitation issues.
He said building a sustainable business for the future did not happen overnight and staff must work harder together, harnessing the company’s collective efforts to build the future together.
“In 2020, I entreat all of us that as we build the future together, let us live by our values which are the foundation of our culture and abide by the policies and procedures that we have developed for ourselves.
“I believe that with God on our side we will achieve our vision of being leaders in our sector of operations and build businesses that transcend generations,” he said.
President, others
Mr Agyepong commended the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for the establishment of the Ministry of Sanitation to tackle waste management issues, saying “his commitment saw the sector making some remarkable gains in 2019 as was captured in his State of the National Address”.
“We are happy for your support for the establishment of the National Sanitation Authority and its accompanying fund. We believe this will go a long way to provide a long-term solution to financing environmental sanitation problems in the country,” he said of the President.
Commendations
He commended former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama for their support to the company over the years.
He also commended the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the entire church for its five-year programme to deal with sanitation.
Again, he lauded the role being played by the National Chief Imam to educate members of the Islamic faith on environmental cleanliness.
Earlier in a presentation, the Director General in charge of Research and Planning of the Ghana Police Service, COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, urged the management of the company to create a succession plan so as to ensure its sustainability.
To be sustainable, he said, among others, that “we should be able to go ahead of the competition”.
The Founder of the Day Star Christian Centre in Nigeria, Rev. Dr Same Adeyemi, said there was the need to include leadership in the education curriculum so as to train children in that area so that they could become future leaders
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