As part of the drive to improve waste menace and clean environment, the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) in collaboration with Jekora Ventures – a waste management company has organized a day’s training workshop for 50 coconut sellers on the proper disposal of coconut husks in the municipality.
The programme is aimed at sensitizing the coconut sellers on the best practices in the disposal of coconut husks which some have been left uncollected at some parts of the metropolis.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah, explained to the participants that the dumping of coconut husk at unauthorised areas in the metropolis has contributed to the rising levels of filth within the municipality.
He said sanitation has become a huge challenge across the country hence government is taking pragmatic steps to address the menace. He said it is against this backdrop that the Assembly has partnered Jekora Ventures to work out modalities to find for innovative ways of disposing of coconut husks including how it can also be turned into commercial use for economic gains.
“The Assembly has observed that coconut sellers engage the services of some unauthorized collectors and they end up dumping the waste indiscriminately,” he said. He has therefore advised them to transport the husks to demarcated holding sites for Jekora which is opposite the Iran Clinic on the Kojo Thompson road in Accra.
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The Managing Director of Jekora Ventures, Immanuel B. Nartey-Tokoli disclosed that 23 cubic metres of coconut waste are collected on daily bases within the municipality, explaining further that the husks can be processed into other bi-products for commercial purposes especially charcoal.
Consequently, the process of turning the coconut husks into charcoal will help reduce to rapid rate at which trees are cut and avoid its negative impact on the environment.
According to him, the programme will be extended to other players in the market chain as part of efforts to rid the metropolis of filth.
The Environmental and Sanitation Health Officer of KoKMA, Victor Acquaye, commended the participants for their inputs in the programme and urged them to practise good hygiene within their sales jurisdiction.
By Ben LARYEA
