The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has called on African leaders to pursue homegrown solutions to the continent’s challenges instead of depending heavily on external systems and support.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Forward Summit at the University of Nairobi in Nairobi on Monday, May 11, Dr. Agyepong said Africa possesses the resources, talent, and capacity needed to drive its own development and industrial transformation.
He questioned why Africa continues to face restrictive conditions in accessing global capital markets despite its vast natural and human resources.
“Why should Africa export her problems when she can build industries to solve them? Why does Africa not have access to capital markets without tough conditions and restrictions? And why has Africa not yet fully utilized and harnessed the wealth of natural resources and human capital available to her?” he asked.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “To Build Together,” is co-hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron and marks the first Africa-France summit to be co-chaired with an English-speaking African country.
The event has brought together African leaders, global investors, technology experts, entrepreneurs, and development partners to discuss issues including energy transition, artificial intelligence, the blue economy, and reforms to the international financial system.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Agyepong shared his humble beginnings, revealing that he started his business journey with an investment of just three dollars from his mother while growing up in a large family.
“My initial capital of 3 dollars from my mother as investment launched me into the world of entrepreneurship, birthing resilience and enthusiasm,” he said.
According to him, the Jospong Group has since evolved into a $1.9 billion asset-based company with 82 independent subsidiaries across nine business clusters operating in 29 countries, employing over 10,000 people directly and creating more than 250,000 indirect jobs.
Addressing the summit’s focus on entrepreneurship and waste management, Dr. Agyepong described waste as an untapped economic opportunity rather than a burden.
He cited global figures indicating that the world currently generates 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, projected to rise to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. He noted that Sub-Saharan Africa alone produces more than 174 million tonnes yearly, yet less than four percent is properly managed or recycled.
“Every tonne of unmanaged waste in Africa is not a failure. It is an unmined resource waiting for the entrepreneur bold enough to claim it,” he stressed.
Dr. Agyepong stated that the Jospong Group has spent two decades building waste management capacity across Africa and currently operates 40 treatment plants covering material recovery, liquid waste, medical waste, and hazardous waste management.
“We have the technical solutions and the financial models. What is still needed is the capital and the partnerships to grow,” he said.
He also challenged global investors and financial institutions to rethink how African businesses are assessed, particularly in the circular economy and environmental sectors.
According to him, long-term investments in African waste management and circular economy businesses offer sustainable returns and should not be viewed merely as charitable interventions.
“Investing here is not being generous. It is building a long-term partnership with a continent,” he stated.
Dr. Agyepong further called on African youth to take advantage of opportunities on the continent and position themselves as innovators and builders.
“To the youth of Africa, this is your time to rise up, challenge yourself, and strengthen yourself. With Africa’s enormous natural resources, you can make an impact,” he said.
He pledged that the Jospong Group would continue to champion collaboration, co-investment, and circular economy financing across Africa. He also announced plans to expand the company’s environmental platform into five additional African markets by 2028 and create 50,000 green jobs.
“The green economy is not coming to Africa. We are building it. The invitation is open to all who choose to build with us,” he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in his opening remarks, called for renewed partnerships between Africa and France based on mutual respect and cooperation rather than influence.
Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto described the summit as a potential turning point for stronger and more productive partnerships between Africa and global stakeholders.
The summit was attended by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, nearly 30 CEOs from Africa and France, technology and innovation leaders, and about 400 youth delegates whose contributions are expected to shape the summit’s final declaration.
