Accra, April 1, GNA – A team from the Jospong Group of Companies has visited Austria to learn about waste-to-energy solutions and apprenticeship training towards improving their success in Africa.
The team included researchers, circular economy experts, and training professionals, an official release shared with the Ghana News Agency Tuesday, said.
They toured recycling plants that produce Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) used for energy generation and as a substitute for fossil fuels.
They also studied Austria’s apprenticeship system, where students receive 80 per cent hands-on training in companies and 20 per cent vocational school instruction.
Hosted by the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the team discussed the structure of Austria’s national apprenticeship programme.
Mr Thomas Reichenbach, Education Advisor at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, said the system equipped young people with practical skills for employment and career growth.
Brigadier General (Rtd) Mike Akpatsu, Head of Jospong Academy and leader of the delegation, described the tour as insightful.
He said the Jospong Group, as a major employer of Ghanaian youth, had gained useful knowledge on using apprenticeship to develop skills.
He assured that the Group was ready to support Ghana’s national apprenticeship programme if given the opportunity.
Mr Jacob Ladi, Project Manager for the Waste Academy Project, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Komptech GmbH, said the study tour was part of a bigger initiative. “One key outcome is that a waste-to-energy research project by Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfESC) researchers were on the trip, in collaboration with the Technical University of Vienna,” he said.
He added that the research would serve as a guide for implementing waste-to-energy solutions in Ghana and Africa.
“One key lesson from the trip was how Austria’s apprenticeship programme can strengthen Jospong Group’s training efforts.
This will help workers gain the right skills to address waste management challenges and promote sustainable solutions,” Mr Ladi noted.
He thanked the Austrian government for its support and was confident that all project targets would be met by 2027.
Mr James Deku, Communications Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, reaffirmed Jospong Group’s commitment to sustainable waste management and green job creation.
“Continuous training and knowledge-sharing are key to our operations,” he said.
The ‘Jospong-Komptech Waste Academy’ is a knowledge transfer programme aimed at improving waste management skills.
It was launched last year in Ghana with funding from the Austrian Development Agency and Komptech GmbH.
GNA
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