The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has partnered with DasBiogas Ltd to install portable biogas plants across the city to treat organic waste, such as food and kitchen waste, into biogas for cooking and organic fertiliser. 

The partnership is aimed at enhancing sanitation, minimising landfill waste, and generating clean energy through biogas technology.

The partnership, which was formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), involves the installation of biogas plants beginning with a demonstration site at the AMA Canteen.

In addition to the AMA Canteen installation, the agreement outlines a plan for DasBiogas to collaborate with the AMA to identify other suitable sites, including schools, clinics, and communities across Accra, where the biogas plants can be installed at no cost to the Assembly, which will provide logistical support and oversight for the project.

As part of the agreement, DasBiogas and the AMA would jointly manage the biogas plant projects, including stakeholder engagement, project planning, and monitoring. 

The MOU would be in force for two years, during which time both parties will contribute resources, including staff, facilities, and expertise, to ensure the project's success. 

Mayor Elizabeth Sackey expressed her optimism about the partnership, describing it as a "game changer" for the city's waste management and sustainability goals.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with the Accra Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the AMA's commitment to improving waste management, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting the use of clean energy,” she said.

"By working with DasBiogas, we are not only tackling our waste management challenges but also promoting a cleaner and greener Accra for future generations," she added.

Enoch Kofi Boadu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DasBiogas, in highlighting the significance of the partnership, expressed that the collaboration with the AMA would play a crucial role in helping the Assembly meet its climate action goals, particularly through waste sorting and energy conversion. 

"This partnership is going to change that," he emphasized. "With the biogas technology, AMA will have their waste sorted and converted into energy for the citizenry, while also producing fertiliser, which will encourage home gardening. This initiative isn’t just for households; we are also targeting a larger scale by sorting market waste and directing it to a biogas plant that we plan to construct in the Kaneshie area, turning all the market waste into something productive."

He also stressed the importance of regulatory support, suggesting that if AMA could implement a by-law requiring bulk waste generators to separate their waste, it could extend across various sectors like hotels and hospitals.

 "When these institutions sort their waste, instead of it going to landfills, it will be directed to the biogas plant, where it will be converted into energy," he explained.

The CEO outlined plans for the future, including compressing the gas produced by the biogas plants for use as green fuel by buses within the metropolitan area and also mentioned that compressed gas could be offered to bulk users of LPG as a supplement for their cooking needs.

"Our message to everyone, especially within the AMA catchment area and beyond, is to embrace this technology," he urged. "If every household can turn their waste into energy, we will create a cleaner environment, reduce the cost of cooking fuel, and minimise deforestation. By doing so, we will be transitioning from high-carbon practices to low-carbon solutions, aligning with the global push towards sustainability," he said.