Ecobank committed to sustainability strategy – MD

Ecobank Ghana has reiterated its commitment to playing a leading role to propel Ghana’s waste trans­formation journey, Mrs Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director, Ecobank Ghana, has said.

“We are actively financing businesses and projects that promote responsible waste man­agement practices. These include supporting waste collection and sorting facilities, composting initiatives, and the development of innovative recycling technolo­gies,” she said.

Speaking at the launch of the maiden Ecobank Sustainability Week held in Accra on Monday, she said, “the bank currently provides financing and suitable pay­ment platforms for our customers in the waste management sector, and we intend to do more.”

It’s on the theme “Promoting Sustainability through Waste Trans­formation: The Ecobank Way”.

Internally, she said, “We are implementing stricter waste segre­gation policies within our branch­es and offices, partnering with recycling companies, and exploring ways to further reduce our paper consumption.”

Every year, the world generates a staggering 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, with this number expected to balloon to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050.

Ghana generates an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of waste each year, with urban centres facing the brunt of improper waste manage­ment

“As part of the sustainability week celebration, we will be do­nating recycled products, including up cycled washing basins, recycled exercise books, recycled waste bins, among others, to the St. Paul’s Senior High School in the Volta region,” she said.

The students, she said, would have the rare opportunity of engag­ing waste transformation experts who would discuss sustainability issues, including its implications on local communities.

“This Sustainability Week Cel­ebration is a call to action. It is our springboard for continued progress. We are committed to continuous improvement, pushing the bound­aries of innovation and collabo­ration to create a lasting positive impact,” she said.

It’s a call to challenge the status quo, to embrace creative solutions, and to build a better and more sustainable future for Ghana. By working together, we can transform waste into a powerful engine for economic growth, job creation, and environmental protection.

Country Chief Risk Officer at Ecobank Ghana, Mrs Joana Men­sah, touted the achievements of the bank in promoting sustainability in its operations.

“We are actively promoting sustainable financing solutions. We are proud to be the first commercial bank in Ghana to be accredited to the Green Climate Fund, allow­ing us to support medium-sized climate-resilient and low-emission projects of up to US$250million,” she stated.

Ecobank’s collaborations, with organisations such as AfDB and the Energy Commission, both under the Affirmative Finance Ac­tion for Women in Africa and ac­celerating solar action programme, were providing crucial funding for women-led agribusinesses and clean energy initiatives.

“It is my singular honour to announce to you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that our first climate project, under the Accelerating Solar Action Pro­gramme, worth US$30million, was approved by the GCF board on March 5 2024 to provide SMEs and households with solar panels and systems,” Mrs Mensah said.

 BY KINGSLEY ASARE  

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