Zoomlion receives Millennium Excellence Award

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong CEO of Zoomlion Ghana Limited displaying his award

Ghanaian waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, have received the “Leadership in Industry” prize at a  colourful ceremony held in Accra by the Millennium Excellence Foundation.

Zoomlion was among 29 institutions and personalities nominated for the awards which have been held every five years since its inception at the turn of the millennium (2000).

The company’s award was presented by the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Gong Jianzhong and the Representative of  His Royal Majesty the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Oheneba Adusei-Poku, Akyempimhene.

In an interview after the awards ceremony held on Saturday, the Chief Executive Officer said Zoomlion was very proud and happy to be recognised by the Foundation.

He said Zoomlion has the passion to render excellent environmental sanitation services, not only to Ghana, but Africa as a whole.

Mr. Agyepong further explained that the company over the past few years has brought dignity and pride to the environmental sanitation industry, which hitherto, was not available due to stigmatisation of workers by society. “We make sure that our workers are well trained and are properly clothed to prevent work related infections.” In short, we have demystified waste management,” he added.

He also said initiatives introduced by the company such as the “Free bin Promotion” has made positive gains across the entire length and breadth of the country.

“As a result of our free bin promotion, where each  of our clients receive a free waste bin, all waste management companies in the Greater Accra Metropolis have been asked by the Accra Metropolitan Authority to give free waste bins to their clients,” the Chief Executive Officer said, adding, “we are very proud of our influence in this direction.”

According to him, the company is also a trail blazer in the establishment of waste reduction and minimisation projects aimed at reducing the waste that goes to final disposal sites or landfill sites. 

“We are establishing a plastic recycling plant as well as a sorting and compost plant at Adjen Kotoku, near Nsawam. For instance our Compost Plant can generate 600 to 900 tonnes of compost every day,” Mr. Agyepong disclosed.

“We are not just collecting and dumping solid waste, we have taken steps to acquire a site, procure a Sorting and Composting Plant as well as a Plastic Recycling Plant which are all under installation now,” he said.

Mr. Joseph Agyepong said the company is also in the process of completing the construction of  a Waste Management Institute to train personnel for the waste management industry in the West African Sub- region.

He said Zoomlion could not have achieved much without the support of its cherished staff and clients.

Zoomlion’s CEO paid glowing tribute to the Ghanaian populace, who he said have accepted the company as well as nominated the company for the award. 

Other organisations that were awarded by the Foundation include, the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDG), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Angela Dwamena Aboagye of the Ark Foundation, Prof, Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Prof. Kofi Awoonor and Major General Henry Anyidoho among others.

The Excellence Awards Foundation (EAF) is a private institution registered as a company limited by Guarantee under the Ghana Companies Code of 1964 Act172 and was Founded by Ashim Morton, who is the Chairman of the Board. The Foundation has a Board of Directors who direct the affairs and guidance and is headquartered in Accra, Ghana.
The mandate of the EAF is to bring into realisation the vision and mission of Ashim Morton of creating programmes that inculcate Leadership, Excellence and Mentorship for all and to acknowledge the diligent works of mankind for others to follow.
It supports non-profit organisations through sponsorship in Ghana and Africa with a mission to create equality for all and to raise the standard of living of its citizens in both the rural and urban areas.
The EAF further supports the objectives of the Ghana National House of Chiefs and is the owner and organiser of the Millennium Excellence Awards which is held once every five years and acknowledges and celebrates distinction in society by individuals, groups and organisations both local and foreign.
Headed by the Life Patron, the Asantehene who serves as the Father and Overseer of the initiative, the Millennium Excellence Awards (MEA), also has a Board of Governors, Board of Trustees Research Committee, Awards Giving Committee and Adjudicators who serve a five year term. The distinguished men and women who serve in these capacities are people who have and continue to serve in different fields of endeavour in Ghana, men and women who are very well respected and have charted excellence in their own respective fields.

Notable personalities who have received Millennium Excellence Awards include Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (Personality of the Century), Former President J. J. Rawlings (Gold Coast Recipient) and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong receiving the award from Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Gong Jianzhong