From humble beginnings in 1995, what started as a small printing press has grown into one of Ghana’s most influential companies in environmental sanitation.
The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), founded by Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has played a defining role in reshaping Ghana’s waste management landscape, evolving into a multi-sector force that touches everything from recycling to public health.
Central to this transformation is Zoomlion Ghana Limited, JGC’s flagship waste management company.
Launched in response to the country’s growing sanitation challenges, Zoomlion introduced a more structured and professional approach to waste collection and disposal, bringing order to what was once a chaotic and underserved sector. Over the years, its operations have expanded across all 16 regions of Ghana.
A key part of this nationwide impact lies in the establishment of Integrated Recycling and Composting Plants (IRECOPs). These facilities not only reduce landfill dependence but also produce compost for local agriculture, linking waste management with food security and economic opportunity.
The group’s entry into medical waste treatment also marked a major step forward, with the launch of Ghana’s first dedicated facility in Kumasi. This has enhanced the country’s capacity to handle hazardous waste safely, especially from hospitals and health centres.
Innovation and collaboration have been core to Jospong’s growth. Partnerships with international technology providers, including CHEIL Engineering and Komptech, have introduced advanced waste processing systems and provided training for hundreds of industry stakeholders. These alliances have helped elevate the standards and capacity of waste management in Ghana.
On the financial front, Jospong Group is attracting substantial investment to power its projects. A notable example is its engagement with Afrexim Bank to support waste infrastructure initiatives across Ghana and Nigeria, including plans for new processing plants that promise to create jobs and improve urban resilience.
In Nigeria’s Lagos State, the company is investing heavily in infrastructure to process waste while reducing carbon emissions, highlighting its broader regional ambitions, and commitment to sustainability.
Beyond infrastructure, Zoomlion emphasises the importance of public awareness and education.
Through community engagement programmes, such as those led by the Zoomkids Foundation, Zoomlion promotes environmental stewardship among young Ghanaians and supports local government efforts to shape policy and encourage behavioural change.
As Ghana continues to urbanise rapidly, the role of organized waste management becomes increasingly vital, not just for aesthetics and hygiene, but for public health, economic stability, and environmental preservation.
Zoomlion has positioned itself at the heart of this transformation, bridging the gap between policy aspirations and real-world impact.
Its model goes beyond collection and disposal. By integrating waste sorting, recycling, composting, and energy recovery, Zoomlion is helping to shift perceptions, reframing waste as a resource rather than a nuisance.
This circular approach not only reduces environmental harm but also feeds into other sectors like agriculture and energy, creating a ripple effect of value across the economy.
Importantly, the group’s success is not only measured in infrastructure or technology but also in its people. Through strategic employment programmes, Zoomlion has empowered thousands of Ghanaians, especially youth and women, providing dignified work in an essential service industry. These jobs don’t just clean streets, they uplift communities.
The company’s work has also contributed significantly to Ghana’s climate goals. With an increasing focus on emissions reduction, waste-to-energy technologies, and green partnerships, Zoomlion is aligning with both national and global sustainability agendas.
Its operations offer a model for other African nations grappling with similar challenges, a homegrown example of how innovation and commitment can drive change at scale.
At a time when environmental concerns are more urgent than ever, Zoomlion’s story offers a glimpse of what is possible when business meets purpose. What began as a small venture has grown into a movement, one that is helping to redefine sanitation, reshape communities, and renew hope for a cleaner, greener Africa.
