Gov’t determined to rid c’nities of refuse through IRECOPs — Sanitation Minister

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has stated that the completion of the Integrated Recycling and Composting Plants (IRECOPs) across the country will help to eliminate pockets of refuse that are often sighted in the towns and cities.

She described the IRECOPs as “novel recycling plants” which would not only be connecting and treating waste but adding value to the waste as well.

Madam Dapaah made the assertion yesterday, when she paid a working visit to the construction site of the IRECOP project in Ho in the Volta Region.

The minister’s visit formed part of a three-day tour in the Volta and Oti regions to inspect ongoing government projects in water and sanitation in the two regions in the Volta Region.

In all, she inspected three projects, two in water and one in sanitation.

She said the IRECOP project was a collaboration between the government and the private sector, noting that waste in the regions would be hauled to IRECOP locations where they will be treated.

After inspecting the ongoing IRECOP at Ho, she expressed satisfaction and said she was hopeful that the projects would be completed on schedule.

Continuing, she said the setting up of the MSWR had paved way for a lot to be done in the water and sanitation sector.

“And I am also happy that we are collaborating effectively with the private sector to have very important projects like IRECOP in Ho and in all the regional capitals” she said.

Earlier during an inspection of a water treatment plant at Adidome in the Central Tongu District, she reiterated that the government was on course to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation by the year 2030.

This, she pointed out, was evident in the huge investment made by the government in the water and sanitation space across the country.

She indicated that the project was the third phase of the five-town water project in the Volta Region.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, in a welcome address said water and sanitation were critical to the development of the people in the region, and the country as a whole.

According to him, there were several water and sanitation projects ongoing in the region.

“The government is doing a lot in the Volta Region as far as water and sanitation is concerned,” he added.

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