‘DIRTY’ business

Ghana: Meet Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the garbage collector with the fat purse

By Kent Mensah

Reserved for subscribers

Posted on April 6, 2023 07:26

© Ghanaian businessman Joseph Siaw Agyepong (photo: supplied) — Ghanaian businessman Joseph Siaw Agyepong (photo: supplied)

In the mid-noughties, Ghana had a problem, one that partly inspired a state-run anti-indiscipline campaign. The West African nation’s largest cities, especially the capital Accra, were overwhelmed by waste. The sheer volume of filth was a sight for sore eyes and the resulting stench repulsive to the nose. But not Joseph Siaw Agyepong’s nose.

One could argue that the most remarkable thing about Agyepong is not his vision, but his sense of smell – that ability to sniff out any opportunity.

There's more to this story

Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Africa. Unlocked.

Subscribe Now

cancel anytime

Already a a subscriber Sign In

More Business

© Eskom technicians perform maintenance in Villiers, South Africa, on May 10, 2023. (Shiraaz MOHAMED / AFP)

Electric shock

South Africa prepares for the worst in load shedding It only took one statement to bring South Africa’s Eskom shares into the red. On Thursday, 18 May, Calib Cassim, acting CEO of the publicly-run nation...

© The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters building in Washington, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

money matters

African Debt: Three proposals to reform the SDR system Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), shares insights on new proposa...

© Tanger Alliance’s TC3 Terminal at Tanger Med

undeniable asset

Morocco: New phase of development to boost economic growth The recent slowdown of economic growth in Morocco has spurred a change of tack by the government – which means a pivot towards courting the private se...

AHEAD OF THE CURVE?

South Africa: Sasol debt plans improve long-term sustainability Sasol will not have material debt maturities until 2026 – giving the company breathing room amidst a high interest rates environment, says ratings age...