Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - Leading Ghanaian Waste Management Company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, has been awarded the "Leadership in Industry" prize at the Millennium Excellence Awards. The company was among 29 institutions and personalities nominated for the awards held every five years.

In an interview, Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong who received the award, expressed joy about the recognition by the organisers and said Zoomlion had the passion to render excellent environmental sanitation services not only in Ghana, but on the African continent. Mr Agyepong explained that management had over the past few years brought dignity and pride to the environmental sanitation industry which hitherto was not available due to stigmatisation of sanitary workers by society. "We make sure that our workers are well trained and are properly clothed to prevent work related infections. We have demystified waste management", he added. He said initiatives introduced by the management included "Free Bin Promotion" that has made positive gains in the country. "As a result of the free bin promotion, where each client receives a free waste bin, all waste management companies in Accra Metropolis have been asked by the Accra Metropolitan Authority to give free waste bins to their clients", Mr Agyepong said.

He noted that management was also a trail blazer in the establishment of waste reduction and had minimised projects aimed at reducing waste to the final disposal sites or landfill sites. "We are establishing a Plastic Recycling Plant as well as a Sorting and Compost Plant at Adjen Kotoku, near Nsawam that would generate 600 to 900 tonnes of compost daily", he added.

Mr Agyepong said management was about to complete the construction of a Waste Management Institute to train personnel for the waste management industry in the West African Sub-region. He commended the hard working staff, clients and the entire Ghanaian population who had accepted the company in their homes as well as nominated the company for the award.

Other organisations which received awards were; Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Mrs Angela Dwamena Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of Ark Foundation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, a Cardio-thoracic Surgeon, Professor Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of Council of State and Major General Henry Anyidoho. 7 Dec. 10