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World Bank launches “Ghana Innovation Marketplace 2009” in
Tema
Tema, Aug 13, Ghanadot/GNA - The World Bank, in
collaboration with the Government of Ghana, on Wednesday
launched the “Ghana Innovations Marketplace (GIM) 2009” in Tema
with a call on Ghanaians to change their behaviour towards waste
management.
Mr Pooya Nikooyeh, Programme Manager at African Aurora, a
representative of the organizing committee of GIM at the World
Bank, said Ghanaians must passionately check indiscriminate
disposal of solid waste in their communities.
Mr Nikooyeh said if people could dedicate themselves to the
education and enforcement of good waste management practices in
their communities, Ghana would be able to solve its sanitation
problems.
He said residents in Accra which “generates between 1,500 and
1,800 tonnes of waste per day, faces numerous sanitation-related
health problems due to the inability of waste management
companies and district assemblies to dispose of waste.”
Mr Nikooyeh said GIM was introduced by the World Bank to
encourage stakeholders to innovate applicable strategic
solutions to the problem.
He said GIM aimed at stimulating over 500 small-scale actors and
partner organizations to generate innovative and sustainable
project ideas on solid waste management in Ghana.
The project which is under the theme; “Solid Waste: BIG PROBLEM!
BIG OPPORTUNITY!” would receive proposals from interested
individuals, small-medium scale enterprises, research
institutions and NGOs in Accra, Tema, Takoradi, Kumasi and
Tamale.
He said participants must give innovative solutions to the
collection of waste, value addition to it in terms of recycling,
composting and energy production.
Participants would also be expected to touch on advocacy and
education on solid waste which includes research and raising
public awareness.
About 100 projects would be given capacity building support by
the GIM while up to 10 national winners would, among other
awards, receive between GH¢10,000 and GH¢50,000 each.
He appealed to residents in the five metropolitan areas to join
the project to create jobs for themselves while helping to solve
the nation’s solid waste management problem.
GNA
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