One year after Lagos waste deal, Ghanaian tycoon Joseph Siaw Agyepong secures Gambia contract

Key Points

• Ghana’s Jospong Group signed an MoU with The Gambia to introduce waste management solutions, marking its latest expansion across the continent.
• Environment Minister Rohey Manjang pledged to establish a waste treatment plant within six months through a Public-Private Partnership.
• Jospong’s chairman urges African nations to reduce dependence on foreign aid, emphasizing innovation and strategy for sustainable waste management solutions.

The Jospong Group of Companies, led by Ghanaian businessman Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Gambia to introduce its waste management solutions in the country. The agreement, finalized in Accra on March 3, marks another step in Jospong’s expansion across Africa. It follows the company’s partnership with Lagos State, Nigeria, to tackle urban waste challenges with homegrown solutions.

The MoU, described as “an African solution to an African challenge,” was signed by The Gambia’s Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang, and Agyepong, Jospong’s Executive Chairman. It came after a five-day visit by a 12-member Gambian delegation, including lawmakers, local council officials, and technical experts, who toured Jospong’s waste management facilities in Ghana.

Gambia signs deal for waste treatment

Speaking at the signing, Manjang underscored the need for Africa to take control of its own development. She committed to building a waste treatment plant in The Gambia within six months through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). “If Africa is to move forward despite our limited resources, we must be innovative. We can’t keep saying we don’t have money,” she said. Calling the agreement a crucial step, she noted that The Gambia was ready to implement a structured waste management plan.

Reflecting on her visit, Manjang said she was both impressed and disheartened. “What we saw over the past few days was eye-opening. It was heartbreaking because we’ve spent years looking to Western countries for solutions—often tied to heavy debt—when the answer was already here in Africa. And it works,” she said.

For Agyepong, the partnership is another example of what can happen when ideas and strategy come together. He credited the deal to divine orchestration, recalling a chance meeting with The Gambia’s Vice President that led to discussions and, eventually, the MoU. “The problem in Africa isn’t a lack of money—it’s a lack of ideas and strategy. When ideas meet strategy, money follows,” he said.

He also warned against Africa’s continued dependence on foreign aid, arguing that it has done more harm than good. “For too long, we’ve celebrated grants and loans. But today, even Donald Trump has told us to focus on developing our own resources,” he said. He pointed to Rwanda as an example of what’s possible when a country prioritizes innovation and self-sufficiency. “What we’ve achieved in Ghana’s waste management sector is the result of determination and commitment, not foreign aid,” he added.

Jospong boosts waste management in Africa

Agyepong, a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist, has built Jospong into one of Ghana’s most influential business groups, spanning waste management, ICT, banking, and automobile services. In Ghana, Jospong has been at the forefront of sanitation infrastructure, with 58 sanitation facilities and 16 integrated recycling and compost plants that have also supported the country’s agricultural sector.

Beyond Ghana, Jospong has been expanding its impact across Africa. Last year, the company secured a deal with the Lagos State Government to construct waste treatment plants aimed at tackling environmental issues in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Lagos generates an estimated 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, and Jospong’s partnership has already made strides in addressing the crisis.

The collaboration with Lagos hasn’t just improved waste management—it has set an example for how African countries can work together to solve common challenges. Facilitated through Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the agreement reflects a broader commitment to sustainability on the continent. With The Gambia now on board, Agyepong’s vision for a cleaner Africa is steadily taking shape.