REPORT ON

SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN SEWAGE

MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA

DURATION:
18TH MAY TO 7TH JUNE, 2016

ORGANIZER:
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS OF
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF CHINA

SPONSOR:
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA

SUBMITTED TO:
OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL, GREATER-ACCRA

PREPARED AND COMPILED BY:

FRANCIS KOFI SOMUAH
(ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IIB/PARTICIPANT)
KPONE-KATAMANSO DISTRICT ASSEMBLY

REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Over the years, China has made environmental protection one of its basic
national policies and made significant progress in environmental protection.
The strides achieved so far are worth emulating and it is against this backdrop
that the Chinese government has put together such training seminars on
Garbage Disposal and Waste Management to provide opportunities for Senior
Government Officials from developing countries like Ghana to share Chinas
experiences in the field of environmental protection.

The Seminar on Garbage Disposal and Urban Waste Management for Ghana,
was

organized

by

the

Center

for

Environmental

Education

and

Communications of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China with

sponsorship from the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China.

The exchange Programme is a partnership between the Economic and

Commercial Counsellors Office of the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of
China in the Republic of China and the Office of the Greater-Accra Regional
Co-Ordinating Council in the Republic of Ghana.

In all, Nineteen (19) Senior Government officials drawn from the various
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies within the Greater-Accra
Region participated in the Three (3) weeks seminar from 18th May to 7th June
2016.

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Participants spent Two (2) weeks in Beijing, Chinas capital city and One (1)
week in Shenzhen, a fast growing city.
The seminar was a combination of lectures, field trips, group discussions and
presentation, Chinese Culture experience and sight-seeing.

Certificates of Participation were awarded to participants for successfully

completing the Three (3) weeks intensive Seminar on Garbage Disposal and
Urban Sewage Management.

2.0 OPENING CEREMONY

Officials at the Opening Ceremony

An opening ceremony was held on Wednesday 18th May, 2016 at the

Conference Hall of Lanxi Hotel located within the premises of the Ministry of
Environmental Protection in Beijing. Present at the function were high-ranking
government officials from the Center for Education and Communication (CEEC)
of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

In his delivery, the Deputy Director of Training section of CEEC of MEP, Mr.
Zhijie Liu, said his outfit has successfully organized 47 Environmental Foreign
Aid seminars and trained 1,146 Senior Government Environmental Officials
from 119 developing countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the South
Pacific and other regions since 2005 to 2015.

The aim of organizing such seminars for developing countries was to serve as
the bridge of promoting the exchange and cooperation between China and all
developing countries and enhance friendship with developing countries; to
publicize principles and policies and achievements of China.

He said seminars of CEEC are not only highly praised by participants, but also
regarded as good example of China South-South Environmental Cooperation.
He welcomed the participants from Ghana and wished them a fruitful stay in
China and success in the seminar.

The leader of the team of officials from Ghana, Mr. David Aboagye, in his
delivery said the seminar was very timely especially at this period that Ghana
is grappling with sanitation issues particularly within the Greater-Accra region.
He was very optimistic that, the seminar would equip participants with the
necessary technical know-how in Garbage Disposal and Urban Waste
Management, and employ state of the art facilities in treating waste.

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Group photograph of participants and officials from the CEEC after the Opening ceremony

3.0 LECTURES
Two weeks intensive lectures and group discussions on varying topics on
Garbage Disposal and Urban Sewage Management were treated and discussed.

Participants listen with rapt attention

Focused Group Discussions

The lectures afforded participants with the; Preliminary understanding of

Chinas prevention and control of environmental pollution,

Understanding

policies and actions on prevention and control of environmental pollution at

provincial and city level in china, and understanding contribution to the aspect

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

of prevention and control of environmental pollution in the typical enterprise in

china.
Topics delivered and discussed in the lectures included the following;

Chinas Environmental Management and Major Environmental Policies

Synopsis of Chinas Environmental Legal System

Bio-waste Management and Disposal Technologies

Electronic Waste Management and Disposal Technologies

Theories and practices and of Chinas Circular Economy

Development and Management of Urban Waste Management and

Disposal Technologies

Hazardous Waste Management and Disposal Technologies

The topics discussed equipped participants with the needed skills and tools in
managing waste. They learnt the key Government policies on Environment and
how to apply them in their respective country.

Round Table Discussions

A Participant asks a Question

Astute resource persons comprising Professors, State actors, Business leaders

and experts in environmental issues were drawn from various high-ranking
Universities (including Peking University and Tsinghua University), Waste

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Management Companies and State Organizations on Environmental Protection

in China.

4.0 FIELD TRIPS

In order to afford participants first-hand information and the practicability of
the topics delivered in the lectures, series of field trips were organized to
companies and state owned organizations that deal in waste treatment,
management and recycling.

Hand On Learning In A Waste Treatment Plant

Group Photo infront of a Waste Treatment Plant

Participants spent one week in Shenzhen, a fast growing city in the Guangdong
Province of China to visit several companies and factories that deal in Waste to
Energy issues.
Some of the waste treatment companies visited included;

Shenzen Energy Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd

Shenzen Environmental Monitoring Center

SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd

Shenzen Mangrove Nature Reserve

Beijing Shougang Bioenergy Science & Technology Co. Ltd

Beijing Chaoyang Circular Economy Industrial Park

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Gaobeidian Waste Water Treatment Plant

Tianjin Ziya Circular Economy Area (Disassembly of Electronic Waste)

Tianjin Ruihe Plastic Products Co. Ltd

Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Center

Yianjin Ziya Circular Economy Industrial Area

Beijing Shougang Bioenergy Science & Tech. Co. Ltd

The field trips to the companies afforded participants the opportunity to

witness high-tech enterprises providing whole-process environmental services
relating to waste management and treatment.

5.0 SIGHT SEEING

As the saying goes, All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. Participants
had the privilege to visit world acclaimed tourist sites in China and the
opportunity to be thrilled with rich Chinese culture.

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Group Photo at the Tian anmen Square

Group Photo at the National Musuem of China

Tourist sites visited included;

The Tian amen Square (one of the largest city center squares in the
world)
The Monument of the Heroes of the People
The Chairman Maos Mausoleum
The National Museum of China
The Forbidden City
The Temple of Heaven
The Great Hall of the People
The Olympic Bird Nest Stadium
The Great Wall of China

Local cuisine at a Traditional Home

Enjoying Traditional Chinese Music and Tea

The aforementioned tourist sites are historic landmarks of the Peoples

Republic of China, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Participants were thrilled with rich Chinese Culture (Music, dance, arts) and
cuisine

6.0 CLOSING CEREMONY

The closing ceremony was held on Tuesday, 7th June 2016, to officially draw
the curtain on the seminar. Participants exchanged pleasantries and gifts.
Certificates of Participation were given to participants for successfully
completing the course.

Presentation of Certificates

Presentation of Gifts/Souvenirs to the Organizers

Group Photo with the Organisers after the Closing Ceremony

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Participants described the 3 weeks seminar as relevant and successful because

of the total transformation of business models that was addressed, as well as
the wide range of opportunities in waste management.

It also addressed topics that were relevant to today's aspiring developing

countries; and afforded Government officials the opportunity to learn at first
hand the business skills, networks, and values needed to grow their ideas into
innovative,

sustainable

enterprises

to

have

safe

and

sustainable

environment.

Participants expressed their delight and gratitude to the Chinese Government

for putting together such seminars as a platform to share ideas, skills, and
transfer knowledge aimed at enhancing their human resource base

7.0

GENERAL

OBSERVATIONS,

LESSONS

LEARNT

AND

RECOMMENDATIONS
China has made considerable efforts over the past few decades in the area of
environmental protection, which is, worthy of emulating in a developing
country like Ghana where the Government continues to grapple with issues of
garbage disposal and urban sewage management.

There is the need for Ghana to consolidate the gains China has made in the
area of Environmental Protection and walk the talk to effectively implement the
policies made in that direction.

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

Waste is a resource which when managed very well, will solve critical economic
problems Ghana is facing currently, especially in the area of Power (Energy
Crisis) and Environmental Cleanliness. The construction and use of high-tech
facilities like incinerators as in the case of China can convert waste to energy to
provide power to the national grid for domestic and industrial consumption.

It was observed that, household waste, electronic and kitchen waste were
effectively collected and sent to state of the art incinerators and circular
economy parks to be recycled and reused by other companies in the
manufacture of goods.

It was realized that, State of the Art Waste Water Treatment plants have been
established across China to treat industrial and domestic wastewater into safe
potable water. The treated water is then used to water the city parks and lawns
and feed the city fountains and streams.

Again China is moving away from the use of Land Fill sites as a mechanism for
waste disposal and treatment (as in the case of Ghana) to the use of
sophisticated facilities that turns waste into energy, agricultural inputs like
manure, potable water and clean air which does not in any way pollute the
environment

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

It is highly recommended that, Ghanas Government and various state actors

at the local level should consider setting up Circular Economies and Industrial
Parks in the major cities like Accra and Kumasi. This will go a long way in
harnessing the full potential of waste as a resource and the clustering of Waste
to Energy Companies in a confined area to enjoy economies of scale.

The Greater Accra Regional Co-Ordinating Council can consider collaborating

with all the various District Assemblies under its supervision to harness
resources into a common pool to set up waste treatment facilities like
Incinerators, which can serve the common good of the District Assemblies. In
order words, District Assemblies can come together to finance and construct a
common project for their common use.

Moreover, the Greater Accra Regional Co-Ordinating Council should consider

holding round table discussions with the Chinese Embassy in Ghana to woo
Chinese investors to bring in Foreign Direct Investments or Public Private
Partnership arrangements like Build Operate Transfers, to establish State of
the Art Waste Treatment Facilities like, Incinerators and Circular Economy
Parks to effectively deal with the grappling issue of managing waste in the
capital city of Accra

8.0 CONCLUSION
Through communication and discussions, the workshop courses were relevant
at teaching managerial experience and practical techniques, promoting the

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REPORT ON SEMINAR ON GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR GHANA BEIJING, CHINA

traditional friendship and co-operation in fields like economy and trade

between China and Ghana whiles accelerating human resource development
and economic social progress in the respective countries.

The seminar afforded participants the chances to sit with local officials and
entrepreneurs and provide them with information about the economic
situation, investment opportunities, trade policies and cooperation intents
amongst and thus find more opportunities and wider approaches bilateral
economic and specialized cooperation.

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