Two Lecturers from the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), were among the twenty-six (26) recipients of the Jospong Group of Company’s Environmental Sanitation Fund awards ceremony held on the 4th of March, 2022 in Accra.
The two, Dr. Sam-Quarcoo Dotse and Dr. Lloyd Larbi, are Lectures from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, (SNES) of the University.
The fund, under the African Environmental and Sanitation Consult, (AfES), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of companies, provides grants to researchers in Ghanaian Universities to study in the area of Environmental Sanitation.
Dr. Sam-Quarcoo Dotse and Dr. Lloyd Larbi, therefore won their awards for their proposals on the topics:“ Design and performance evaluation of Small-Scale waste to energy technology for sustainable waste management and energy generation and the “Implementation of sustainable waste segregation and recycling programme in educational institutions in the Krobo Municipalities of Ghana.”
In an address, the Managing Director of AfES Consult Dr. Abena Asomaning Antwi explained that the consult received 45 applications from across the Universities in Ghana, out of which 26 were selected. She continued that the 26 award winners were among the 13 public universities that presented proposals on mitigation, climate change, clean water, and sanitation challenges within their target areas.
She said, as Ghana struggles to meet the SDGs, the Jospong Group of companies realises that in order for the country to meet its SDGs, corporate Ghana, CSOs, and private individuals will need to contribute towards providing the needed funds to assist researchers in their areas of study.
The group Head-HR for Environment and Sanitation group of the Jospong Group of companies, Mr. Collins Frimpong stated that the company has its tentacles spread across Ghana and Africa, and it is always prepared to contribute its quota towards world-class waste management practices, especially in Ghana.
He also revealed that, the Jospong Group has begun the construction of wastewater treatment plants in the 16 Regions of Ghana. Mr. Frimpong stated that prioritizing research and innovation in waste management will likely lead to the realisation of the SDGs in relation to environmental sustainability.
The Board Chair of AfES Consult, Dr. Mercy M.E. Gardiner said, despite the in-roads made by AfES Consult and the Jospong Group towards the realization of a safe and sound environment through research funding, a lot more needs to be done. She was hopeful the scheme would make its desired impact if more partners come on board.
The UESD winners expressed excitement about their awards. Dr. Sam-Quarcoo Dotse, whose topic was, “Design and performance evaluation of Small-Scale waste to energy technology for sustainable waste management and energy generation’ expressed his excitement on winning the award. He also commended his team, made up of some faculty members in the School of Sustainable Development, for their immense support for the project. Dr. Dotse said, his team was poised to begin the research immediately.
Dr. Lloyd Larbi on the other hand explained that the topic, “Implementation of sustainable waste segregation and recycling programme in educational institutions in the Krobo Municipalities of Ghana,” is a project being undertaken by the Environment and Public Health team he leads.
He was hopeful the recommendations from the research will provide the government and its development partners with a policy design and strategies for the implementation of proper waste disposal and management. Dr. Larbi lauded the Jospong Group of companies and the AfES in particular for their tremendous assistance to researchers. He called for more of such funds to be made available to researchers.