Asantehene Engages Austria Over Kumasi Waste Issues

The Occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has engaged Austria over proper disposal and the medical management of waste in the capital of the Ashanti Region.

During a conversation between the King and the first resident Austrian Ambassador to Ghana, HE Jurgen Heissel, at the Manhyia Palace on May 23, 2025, the issue of waste management was raised.

His Majesty expressed concerns about the poor waste management within the Metropolitan while referencing the waste treatment plant of Jospong Group of Companies, which is run on Austrian machines, and called for collaborations to set up more in Kumasi.

“I know you have collaboration with Jospong, so whatever you are doing, you still can enhance that.”

He emphasised the need for recycling waste into useful things.

“Waste management is a major problem for us here in Kumasi. The volume of waste that we create and how we can turn that into something useful like fertilisers is something we will encourage your partnership for your companies to come for us to do that.”

Renewable Energy
His Majesty was also keen about collaboration in Ghana’s pursuit of adopting renewable energy to guard against climate change.

“We know that Austria is good at renewable energy, and that is what we are looking up to. In this age of green, we would want your collaboration in that area.”

The agriculture sector was another area Otumfuo proposed for investment.

Trade
His Majesty did not mince words when he touched on the trade activities between the two countries.

“The 50 million euros trade is not good for us knowing that Austria is a major European country with the resources. Maybe I will encourage you to do that.”

Favourable Environment
He touted the favourable trading environment in Ghana and Africa at large.

“We have AfCFTA, for example, about 1.3 billion, so that’s an avenue to use. The market, manpower and avenue are here. The collaboration can be forged.”

Additionally, Otumfuo touted the abounding skilled labour in Ghana.

“The manpower resources are here. We’ve trained so many students in engineering, agriculture and others. The universities are churning out very qualified people. What we need in Ghana isn’t aid. We need to trade and collaborate so it will be a win-win situation.”

Objective
HE Jurgen Heissel in his submission said his focus was driven towards enhancing and increasing trade activities and partnerships within Ghana.

“We have a good economic exchange but as our Minister said when he was here to open the embassy, there is room for improvement. I see this as one of the tasks that I will have in the next four years as the Austrian ambassador to see how we can bring more life into our economic relations.”

Highlighting some interventions and projects of Austria in Ghana in the areas of security, the envoy stated that a safe Ghana was beneficial for Europe.

“We are aware that if we have a safe region here, this is benefiting Europe and vice versa, so we are trying to make this mutually beneficial.”

Art
HE Heissel assured of Austria’s continued commitment towards the exchange programme with the KNUST Department of Arts.

“This is something we want to build upon.”

He also announced the unveiling of a cultural forum.

“We will be opening a cultural forum and particularly, there is an umbrella where we combine all our cultural work and we only have only one African country. Ghana is going to be the second one after South Africa, and we just came from there.”

New Embassy
According to the Ambassador, Ghana was a logical choice when Austria last year decided to enlarge its network in sub-Saharan Africa.

He cited the shared commitment in relation to human rights, rule of law, and security as reasons.

The embassy in Ghana, which was commissioned in September, brought to five the number of embassies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Before that, Austria was running a consulate in Accra from Nigeria.

Story by Hajara Fuseini