The Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) on Wednesday, 18th March, 2014 hosted a delegation from the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), an association of waste management companies providing both solid and liquid waste management services in Ghana. The meeting was to outline possible areas of collaboration between the two institutions.

Miss Ama Ofori Antwi, Executive Secretary of ESPA, in her presentation said that the vision and mission of ESPA was to provide sustainable environmental sanitation and to complement Government efforts to resolve environmental challenges in Ghana respectively. It was therefore prudent to collaborate with bodies such as the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), who had contributed immensely as far as sanitation was concern in Ghana and looked forward to an effective collaboration between the two institutions.

Professor Chris Gordon, Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), in his response indicated that, there has always been a bridge between academia and industry and that the initiative by ESPA was laudable. However, he expressed disappointment at the attitude of some industries that mostly are interested in the findings of research works but are always reluctant to fund such researches. 

Therefore, he urged ESPA to not only look out for assistance from IESS but also to contribute meaningfully to realising some of the research findings they might be interested.

In addition, Professor Gordon educated the public on income generation through waste management. He cited Denmark as one of the countries that had so managed its wastes to the extent that, they presently imported waste. He believed Ghana could do same only if all stakeholders were brought on board.

Dr. Daniel Nukpesah, a Research Fellow with the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), in his closing remarks suggested that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) be prepared as early as possible for the success of the collaboration between the two organisations.