Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of Zoomlion/Jospong Group of Companies has inaugurated the Board of Trustees for the Zoomlion Foundation (ZLF) in Accra.

The five-member board was sworn into office after taking the oath of office and the oath of secrecy administered by Head of Legal, Jospong Group of Companies, Mrs. Gloria Benneh.

Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director of Abantu for Development is the Board Chair. Other members of the board include, Mrs. Florence Larbi, Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr. Ishmael Edjekumhene, Director of KITE (a wholly Ghanaian NGO), Mrs. Sarah Kyei, Coordinator of the Foundation and Mr. Fred Amoah, Partner, Double Entry Management Consult.

The Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong thanked the board for offering to support the Zoomlion Foundation and urged them to bring their rich experiences to bear in support of the vision and mission of the ZLF. He also stressed on the need for the board to support theFoundation’s staff to inculcate good sanitary habits into children and ensure littering is prevented to avoid perennial flooding.

The Board Chair in her response noted that even though the board of trustees are busy executives, they are committed to contributing their quota to promote environmental sanitation management in the country. On behalf of her colleagues she pledged to assist in whatever way they can to advance the course of the Foundation.

Mrs. Sarah Kyei, Coordinator of ZLF indicated that the Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility wing for the Zoomlion/Jospong Group of Companies. The vision of the Foundation is to leave a sustainable environment for future generations and enhance socio-economic transformation. Its mission is to inspire children and youth to be champions of good environmental sanitary practices and to invest in communities.

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong noted that it is the cherished value and commitment of Zoomlion/Jospong Group of Companies to give back to society through capacity building, environmental education and donation to vulnerable groups. It is against this background that Zoomlion has established the Zoomkids Club Project which is a hygiene and sanitation project operating in basic schools in Ghana to facilitate the creation of social and environmental awareness and education among young and old people.

He emphasized that if children are conscientised early on the benefits of good sanitary practices and habits, such habits will become second nature and will put them in positions where they could influence social behavioural changes in their families, schools and the larger community. He remarked, “We want a new generation to have a new thinking. The Foundation needs to contribute to policy making and ensure the environment is protected”.