On August 20, 2024, a significant milestone was achieved at the AH Hotel in Accra as Jospong Group of Companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cheil Engineering Co. Ltd. from South Korea. This partnership aims to drive the development of a circular economy around textile waste recycling and renewable energy projects in Ghana and other African countries.
The event was attended by key representatives from both organizations, with the MoU being signed by Joo Jin Woo, the Executive Vice President of Cheil Engineering, and Mrs. Florence Larbi, the Chief Operating Officer of the Environment and Sanitation Group at Jospong. Mrs. Larbi delivered a notable speech, expressing her gratitude towards Cheil for their commitment to this collaboration. She highlighted the importance of this partnership in advancing sustainable practices and the potential it holds for transforming waste management and energy production in the region.
The MoU outlines two primary areas of focus:
Textile Waste Recycling: The collaboration will explore opportunities to recycle solid waste, particularly textiles, in Ghana and other African nations. This initiative is a significant step towards reducing environmental pollution and promoting the efficient use of resources.
Development of Circular Economy and Renewable Energy Projects: Both companies will work together to establish a circular economy framework, focusing on the development of renewable energy projects. This effort will contribute to reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and foster sustainable economic growth in the region.
This partnership reflects Jospong Group’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation, reinforcing its position as a leader in waste management and renewable energy in Africa. As Mrs. Larbi stated in her speech, this collaboration with Cheil Engineering is not just a business venture but a shared journey towards a greener, more sustainable future for Ghana and the entire African continent.
The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has established a distribution partnership agreement with VinFast Auto in Vietnam to introduce VinFast’s innovative electric vehicles to the Ghanaian and West African markets.
This agreement marks VinFast’s first entry into the African market, solidifying its status as a pioneer in the worldwide shift toward sustainable transportation. The partnership also underscores VinFast’s resolute dedication to delivering eco-friendly and intelligent transportation solutions to customers worldwide, while simultaneously capitalizing on the immense potential of the African electric vehicle market.
The Jospong Group of Companies, under this collaboration will undertake the distribution of VinFast’s diverse range of vehicles, encompassing electric cars, e-scooters, e-bikes, and electric buses, across Ghana and West Africa. Additionally, Jospong is committed to spearheading the deployment of public charging infrastructure nationwide to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
In tandem with the distribution agreement, Vingroup, Vietnam’s leading private multi-industry conglomerate and parent company of VinFast, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jospong Group.
This strategic partnership entails both companies combining efforts to identify and pursue mutually advantageous business opportunities. These opportunities span across various sectors including electric vehicles, taxi operations, public transportation solutions, education, hospitality, and real estate development.
The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, conveyed his excitement, remarking, “Vingroup’s unwavering dedication to promoting a green revolution, exemplified by their groundbreaking electric vehicle ecosystem and VinFast’s inventive product lineup, is highly commendable. We are honored to collaborate with Vingroup and VinFast on their worldwide journey, collectively striving to build a more sustainable and prosperous future for everyone.”
Representing VinFast Global, Mr. Tran Viet Anh, commented, “The electric vehicle market in Ghana and West Africa holds immense growth potential, and we are honored to lead this transformational journey alongside a prominent Ghanaian corporation”.
“Together, we are dedicated to constructing a sustainable future for Ghana by delivering a comprehensive electric transportation ecosystem, ranging from bicycles and cars to buses, with flexible sales options, ensuring accessibility for all to partake in the clean transportation revolution”, he added.
The electric vehicle market in Ghana and West Africa is poised for significant expansion, driven by burgeoning demand and government initiatives aimed at achieving net-zero emissions in the transportation sector. Ghana envisions a future landscape by 2040 where a substantial portion of gas stations will be repurposed to cater to sustainable transportation alternatives, such as electric vehicles.
This strategic collaboration with Jospong Group presents a momentous opportunity for Vingroup and VinFast to swiftly cement their foothold in the region’s electric vehicle market and emerge as frontrunners in the broader sustainable transportation industry.
Jospong Group, with its extensive presence spanning 14 diverse sectors and a network of over 60 companies, stands as a cornerstone of Ghana’s economic landscape, with notable ventures in automobile, waste management, ICT, and banking.
The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has entered into an agreement with the Lagos State Government, facilitated by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, to construct waste treatment facilities in Lagos, Nigeria.
This ground breaking initiative aims to revolutionize the environmental landscape of Africa’s most populous city, addressing pressing waste management challenges and fostering sustainability.
The formalization of this landmark agreement took place through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Jospong Group of Companies, represented by its Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honourable Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, in Lagos on Monday, February 26, 2024.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong underscored the company’s commitment to supporting Lagos State and sharing expertise in waste management and treatment. He emphasized the importance of leveraging lessons learned from Ghana to enhance the sanitation landscape of Lagos State.
Furthermore, Dr. Agyepong assured upstream operators in Lagos of collaboration and support, including equipment provision, to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their operations.
Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, highlighted the state’s dedication to addressing waste management challenges through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework. He emphasized the importance of converting waste into valuable resources and fostering a conducive environment for private sector participation to achieve a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous Lagos.
The Consul General of the Ghana Consulate in Lagos, HE Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari, expressed support for the partnership between Jospong Group and the Lagos State Environment and Water Resources, underscoring her commitment to ensuring its success.
Per the MoU, Jospong Group will implement various initiatives, including establishing Material Recovery Facilities, Mobile Transfer loading stations, and recycling plants, to streamline recyclable activities and contribute to environmental sustainability.
This collaboration does not only address immediate waste management challenges in Lagos but also contributes to Nigeria’s carbon ratings, enabling the country to access funding for sustainable infrastructure development.
The delegation from Jospong Group included key executives and board members, demonstrating the company’s dedication to fostering impactful partnerships and driving positive change. Similarly, the Nigerian delegation, led by the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, comprised high-ranking officials and industry stakeholders committed to advancing environmental sustainability efforts in Lagos.
It was a sun-kissed hazy day in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 2023, during the 28thClimate Change Conference held at the Expo City. The venue was the Ghana Pavilion and the entire leadership and workforce of the Jospong Group had every reason to be proud.
This was the day that saw representatives of the Swiss Government, led by His Excellency Ambassador Felix Wertli of the Swiss Federal Office for Environment (BAFU) and representatives of the Jospong Group, led by visionary Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, sign an authroisation document which conferred an internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcome (ITMO) credit on the Integrated Waste Recycling and Compost facilities of the Jospong Group of Companies.
The number of dignitaries, who witnessed the historic occasion, was awesome. It included no less a personality than His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Freda Prempeh, Minister of Water and Sanitation, as well as representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana.
The ITMO status covers four out of the 38 waste treatment plants belonging to Zoomlion Ghana, a subsidiary of Jospong Group, which were selected for the initial phase of the project aiming to generate approximately 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide valued at US$20 million from now until 2030.
For His Excellency Ambassador Felix Wertli of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU), the signing of the document was of great significance to the Swiss government in pursuit of reducing carbon emissions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
He highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of the agreement, with Ghana reducing emissions and enhancing waste management while Switzerland advances its climate goals. He also expressed Switzerland’s eagerness to continue strengthening its relationship with Ghana in these endeavours.
Dr. Agyepong, on his part, said the world has now gone green, and as such, about 1,000 of Zoomlion’s diesel waste trucks are undergoing conversion into electric vehicles in partnership ZeroNox in the USA. He announced the company’s plans for extensive climate-related research in 2024, adding that the Jospong Group intends to sponsor a number of individuals in climate studies.
Jospong Group & Swiss Government collaborate on carbon trading
Zoomlion’s exploits at carbon trading can be traced back to the year 2008 when it partnered the British Council of Accra to carry out a pilot project on its landfill sites.
“Everything our great Group has embarked upon has green components, says Ms. Sophia Kudjordji, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Jospong Group. “From its inception, the Jospong Group has been on a mission to foster sustainability and help build a green environment in Ghana and across the African continent. One of the standout achievements of the Group is the generation of substantial carbon credits, made possible through various innovative initiatives, Ms. Kudjordji added.
“I am aware that climate change has become the single greatest challenge facing humanity and the single biggest threat to all life on Earth, and I believe that we all in one way or the other have a role in mitigating its devasting impact on humanity,” Dr. Agyepong, stressed in an interview.
“In 2006, when by the grace of God, I caught the vision to go into waste management, my primary mission was to improve the lives of people by ensuring environmental cleanliness using simple but modern technologies. My joy was to see our streets and homes clean while providing livelihood for the teeming youth of our beloved country, Ghana,” Dr. Agyepong further said.
“We at Jospong Group fully agree that it demands urgent and concerted action from all nations including the private sector to lower emissions and reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” he added.
It is worth noting that the Jospong Group of Companies has been at the forefront of this movement, setting an exemplary model for businesses and looking to incorporate eco-friendly practices into our operations.
At the heart of the Jospong Group’s sustainability journey lies an unwavering commitment to ESG principles. “These principles serve as the guiding light for the Group’s activities, shaping its efforts to minimize its environmental footprint, empower communities, and uphold the highest standards of corporate governance,” says Noah Gyimah, the Group’s Chief Investment & Innovations Officer.
“As part of our journey to this project, we developed a mitigation activity document including the technical description of the project,” added Ing. Dr Glenn Gyimah, of the African Environmental & Sanitation Consult (AFESC).
“This also encompassed the involvement of our national government, the Regulator which is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana as well as an independent validator.
“We also developed a Municipal Solid Waste Flow analysis that can justify the quantity of emissions captured and a financial analysis to guide us. With our four plants combined up to the year 2030 we could save a carbon emission of not less than 1.6 million metric tonnes of carbon equivalent of methane,” Dr Gyimah explains further.
“Going forward, Jospong Group is setting up plants in each of the 16 regions of Ghana. We are not relenting in our efforts; we must ensure that we excel in this venture,” says Mrs. Florence Larbi, Chief Operating Officer of the Environment & Sanitation Cluster of the Jospong Group, an outfit which oversees the operations of the recycling and Composting facilities.
“It is also about appreciating the value of waste and proper waste management systems,” she said.
