A GNA feature by Mohammed Balu
Tumu, (UW/R), May 25, GNA - While most people see worn-out vehicle tyres as environmental waste and hazards, Mr Michael Adongo, a cobbler, sees the opposite; he sees a business opportunity in them.
For the past 12 years, the Tumu-based entrepreneur has turned what many consider “trash” into a thriving multi-purpose industry, proving that innovation can be found in the most unlikely materials.
How it started
As a native of Bolga Bongo in the Upper East Region, Mr Adongo’s journey began when he had formal education in mechanics.
As a graduate of the Bolgatanga Technical Institute, he specialised in Auto Mechanics, a background that now serves as the foundation for his creative craftsmanship.
Rather than waiting for a white-collar job, perhaps in a garage elsewhere in the country, Mr Adongo has turned out to become a specialised cobbler and fabricator.
“I am self-employed, out of this work, I get money, which is enough to take care of my family of three children and a wife,” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Tumu.
The Products from the Rubber
Mr Adongo’s workshop is a testament to the versatility of rubber. His craftsmanship spans across several sectors, providing essential tools for locals and farmers alike.
Durable and highly protective footwear called Dakluda is carved out of the rubber, which is affordable to many people and mostly used by farmers and labourers.
Mr Adongo, aside from providing those unique services, also does the same for the people in the formal work sector, where, through stationary and other documents, hand-designed stamps carved from rubber are used for official documents.
It does not stop there, some agricultural equipment, like Donkey cart seats, protective covers for farm planters, and specialised handles for cutlasses, also come from Adongo’s craft.
”If only it’s made of rubber and it’s needed for a machine or a farm activity, I can likely fashion it from a tyre,” Mr Adongo explained.
Environmental Benefits
Beyond the economic benefits, Mr Adongo’s work serves as a vital waste-management service.
Used tyres are notorious for being non-degradable, often clogging drainage systems or being burnt, releasing toxic fumes into the atmosphere.
By repurposing these materials, Mr Adongo is actively reducing the environmental pollution in Tumu caused by abandoned lorry tyres.
Mr Wahab Salifu, Tthe Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the Tumu Area Office, praised Mr Adongo for his initiative and said it contributes to environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
When used vehicle tyres are poorly disposed of, they exert significant negative impacts on the environment.
Mr Salifu said they release harmful gases into the atmosphere, cause environmental pollution, ozone layer destruction, and ultimately contribute to climate change.
Therefore, Mr Adongo’s intervention, in the long run, helps prevent them from becoming part of the waste stream, reduces the emission of harmful gases, and supports environmental protection.
Environmental Protection, a Collective Responsibility
Considering the current state of the climate and its undeniable impact on the everyday lives of people and all sectors of the nation’s economy, including agriculture, the need for interventions and actions to protect the environment is more critical today than it has ever been.
Referencing to the Environmental Management Act 1124 of 2025, Mr Salifu indicated that environmental protection is a collective responsibility and commended individuals who develop innovative ways to manage waste and protect the environment.
He explained that waste management remained a major challenge across the country, and recycling initiatives such as Mr Adongo’s initiative should be encouraged and supported to thrive.
He said the EPA is always ready to support initiatives that offer meaningful solutions to environmental problems.
Mr Salifu, therefore, recommended support for Mr Adongo to expand his operations, employ and train more people, not only to earn a living through the recycling initiative, but also to contribute to environmental protection.
He also noted that the waste management department of the EPA supports innovative environmental initiatives, which Mr Adongo and other individuals with similar projects could take advantage of.
Impact of the Initiative
Mr Asmiru Tordia, a tractor operator, explained that whenever his tractors develop tyre problems, Mr Adongo is the only person able to repair them effectively.
He testified that Mr Adongo also produces local bushes from the old tyres, which help improve the performance of tractors during ploughing.
“Without the services that Michael provides, we would have had to travel to either Bolgatanga or Wa to repair tractor parts. Michael’s work has greatly supported many tractor operators in the area by making tractor repairs accessible and affordable”, Mr Moro Abu, another operator, explained.
Mr Adongo also replaces handles for cutlasses and machetes used by women and farmers, as well as maintains corn mills and water sachet production machines in the town.
Mr Boribi Sormosu confirmed that Michael has helped keep several of his machines functional, especially those used for cutting rubber.
Also, Mr Abass Hor, an auto mechanic, stated that they collaborate with Mr Adongo in producing bushes for vehicles and other machine parts, which further speaks to his important contribution to livelihoods and small-scale industries through the tyre recycling.
Challenges and appeal
Despite his success, the journey hasn’t been without its hurdles, which impede his desire and efforts to scale up his operations and improve the finishing part of his products if he had the needed support.
Mr Adongo admits he is often misunderstood by customers who may not immediately see the value in recycled rubber products.
Furthermore, his production is currently limited by a lack of modern equipment that would have helped improve his work for economic, social and environmental benefits to the community and Ghana as a whole.
He is, therefore, appealing to the government, non-government organisations (NGOs) and the corporate sector to support him with the needed equipment to enhance his work and contribute to the unemployment rate in the country through engaging young people in the area.
Already, Mr Adongo has already trained several people who are now working and providing services to their communities. Getting the support would prove meaningful in enabling him to train more young people.
“If I get a filing machine and a leather sewing machine, it will greatly boost my work with these unusable tyres”, he said.
For now, Mr Adongo remains a prime example of how technical skill, paired with a bit of “green” thinking, could turn a discarded tyre into a useful product for people’s everyday life and help create a sustainable future for all.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Mohammed Balu
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