The Government of The Gambia and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, have signed a landmark integrated waste management concession agreement to transform sanitation, create jobs and promote sustainable waste management in the West African country.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, was followed by a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of integrated waste treatment facilities at Tambana, Brikama, in The Gambia’s West Coast Region.
The two ceremonies, held under the patronage of President Adama Barrow, began with the signing of the Integrated Waste Management Project (IWMP) concession agreement at State House in Banjul before culminating in the launch of the project at Tambana.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Gambian government by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, while the Jospong Group was represented by its Executive Chairman, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
The project is expected to strengthen waste collection and treatment systems, improve environmental sanitation, create employment opportunities for young people and women, and convert waste into useful agricultural and industrial resources.
Under Phase One, Zoomlion will finance, design and construct a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant and transfer stations, while providing municipal solid waste collection and transportation services.
The first phase will also include the decommissioning of the Bakoteh and Mile 2 dumpsites, alongside the recovery of reusable materials, including plastics and metals.
Phase Two, scheduled for activation after the second anniversary of the project, will introduce liquid waste management services and extend operations to other regions of The Gambia.
Environment Minister Calls for Bold Solutions
The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Rohey John Manjang, described the initiative as an important step towards addressing the country’s persistent waste management challenges.
She acknowledged the efforts of the technical teams and stakeholders who worked to bring the agreement to fruition, stressing that the process required commitment, collaboration and a willingness to explore innovative solutions.
“The team has done extremely excellent work to protect our land and address the challenges we face,” she said.
The minister commended Zoomlion and its leadership for partnering with The Gambia, describing Dr Agyepong as “a genuine friend of African partnership.”
She said the initiative demonstrated the need for African countries to learn from one another and adopt practical approaches to shared development challenges rather than relying exclusively on conventional solutions.
“We cannot continue transforming the structures of this country without taking bold and creative steps. We must find practical ways to address our challenges and deliver results,” she stated.
Ms Manjang further called for stronger national capacity to identify development needs, conduct feasibility studies and translate discussions with potential investors into concrete projects.
She observed that some partnerships failed to progress because of limitations in the capacity required to sustain engagements and develop viable proposals.
She said building effective partnerships and strengthening institutional capacity would be essential to ensuring that the project delivered lasting benefits to the Gambian people.
NEA Director Highlights National Commitment
The Executive Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA), Dr Dawda Badgie, described the agreement as a historic milestone in the country’s efforts to establish a sustainable waste management system.
He recalled that the agency organised a two-day national dialogue on sustainable waste management in July 2025, bringing together stakeholders to develop a comprehensive framework for tackling the problem.
According to him, the discussions helped build a common understanding of the scale of the challenge and the financial and technical resources required to address it.
“The issue of waste management is a concern in this country, and it is in that light that the entire framework came together to work and see how we can work together to address the problem,” he said.
Dr Badgie explained that the NEA, under the policy direction of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, was responsible for leading efforts towards sustainable waste management.
He said President Barrow’s presence at the ceremony demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving sanitation, advancing sustainable development and protecting public well-being.
“The Government of The Gambia is committed to environmental sanitation, sustainable development and the well-being of the Gambian people and beyond,” he noted.
The NEA director also commended Vice-President Muhammad Jallow, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the government’s technical team and other stakeholders for their contributions to the negotiations.
He expressed appreciation to Zoomlion for its confidence in The Gambia and its willingness to partner with the government on what he described as a critical national priority.
Agyepong Champions African Solutions to African Challenges
The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, described the agreement as a practical demonstration of African countries working together to address their development challenges.
He revealed that the partnership originated from a conversation with Vice-President Muhammad Jallow during a flight, which continued in the VIP lounge and eventually developed into a shared commitment to improve waste management in The Gambia.
Following the initial discussions, a Gambian government delegation visited Ghana to inspect the Jospong Group’s facilities and assess its operational capacity before the memorandum of understanding and concession agreement were finalised.
Dr Agyepong commended President Barrow’s administration for its development agenda, including investments in roads, electricity and other infrastructure under the YIRIWAA National Development Plan.
He said the partnership reinforced the importance of African expertise, enterprise and cooperation in delivering solutions to the continent’s environmental and developmental challenges.
The project, he explained, would draw on the Jospong Group’s experience in waste management while creating opportunities for Gambian businesses and workers to participate in the development and operation of the facilities.
From a Manual Tricycle to a Pan-African Enterprise
To demonstrate the company’s experience and capacity, Dr Agyepong recounted the growth of Zoomlion from its humble beginnings with a manual tricycle in 2006 into a major waste management enterprise operating across Africa.
He said the Jospong Group now operates in 29 African countries through more than 75 subsidiaries, with a core workforce of approximately 10,000 employees and operations involving 38 waste treatment plants.
The group, he added, supports more than 250,000 job opportunities across the continent.
“I humbly share this primarily to showcase that as an African company, our mission is to transform lives by delivering sustainable jobs to drive sustainable development,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the Gambian project would contribute to environmental improvement while creating economic opportunities for communities and strengthening local capacity in waste management.
Zoomlion Assures Local Businesses of Inclusion
Dr Agyepong also assured existing waste collectors, transporters, recyclers and other local businesses that the concession would not sideline them.
“To existing collectors, transporters, recyclers and businesses, I give this clear assurance: no local player will be pushed out. You will be supported to participate, strengthen your capacity and grow,” he declared.
He said the project would encourage collaboration with local entities, including NIRO, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Sulayman Cham, to promote local participation in construction, procurement and maintenance.
The Jospong Group chairman further stressed that young people and women must benefit from the employment and business opportunities the project would generate.
He said developing local expertise would be critical to ensuring that the facilities could be operated and maintained sustainably over the long term.
The agreement marks a significant step in Ghana-Gambia cooperation, with the project expected to support improved sanitation, resource recovery, employment creation and the development of a more sustainable waste management system in The Gambia.
