Chairman of Environmental Services Providers Association Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong has called for institutional support for the association in order to complement government’s efforts at attaining the Millennium Development goal 7 on environmental sustainability.

Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong who is also the Executive Chairman of Zoomlion Ghana Limited noted that after 13 years of its existence, the environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has found it necessary to rebrand itself in order to make it more reflective and responsive of the changing landscape in the delivery of sanitation services and the management of waste in Ghana.

He was speaking at the launch of the re-branding of the ESPA in Accra.

He observed that high investment in the sanitation and waste management sector over the years has not yielded high impact owing to a number of factors.

He identified uncooperative attitude of the public towards good sanitary practices, combined with low revenues for waste collection, as contributors to the low impact being recorded in the sector.

Dr. Agyepong demanded an upward adjustment in fees charged for waste collection as well as a structured and active involvement of service providers in the implementation of sanitation and waste management policies.

“Mr. Chairman, it is time for us to bring the environmental service provider into sharp focus in our implementation plans. Otherwise scores of donor support for sanitation and waste management may not yield the desired impact”, he stressed.

Dr. Agyepng noted that changes in operational costs do not warrant a corresponding increase in collection rates or processing fees, explaining that fees are enacted in the by-laws of the assemblies and the by-laws have to be modified or amended before any new fees can be charged.

“Because environmental service providers use specialized equipment in their operations, it is imperative that we recover cost”, Dr. Agyepong intimated.

The Minister For Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Oppong Fosu assured of government commitment to collaborating and supporting the ESPA in its efforts to keep the country clean and healthy for all.

He however bemoaned the attitude of Ghanaians towards proper sanitation and called for behavioral change.

The Minister also urged the Association to expand distribution and collection of bins and also build the capacity of its members in order to improve upon its services.

The Mayor of Accra Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije noted that the cost of waste management is high and advocated private sector participation in waste management in order to reduce the burden on government.