Liberia’s Solid Waste Mgmt Association Wants Technician Appointed At MCC, Not Politicians

Liberia’s Solid Waste Management Association (LISWA) has called on President-elect Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai to appoint a dedicated technician to assist in tackling the nation’s growing waste problem at the Monrovia City Corporation instead of a politician.

J. Saah Joe Kandamah said with a rapidly expanding population and infrastructure, Liberia is facing mounting challenges in properly managing its solid waste, and the appointment of a technician would play a crucial role in developing and implementing effective waste management strategies, as well as ensuring the proper functioning and maintenance of waste management systems.

According to the association, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) does not need politicians to run the operations of cleaning the city and other cities, but rather technicians who possess strong technical expertise in waste management.

“Having a dedicated technician would address the current gaps in the system and allow for a more efficient and sustainable approach towards waste management. This technician would be responsible for supervising waste collection and disposal, monitoring landfill operations, and implementing recycling and composting initiatives,” the association said.

Kendamah said they strongly believed this drive would enable the actualization of the Unity Party’ vision as it regards making Monrovia and its environs clean and green.

The association, however, has nominated a seasoned sanitation expert, James K. Mulbah, as an individual who they believed is best suited to serve as City Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC). Mulbah is the Chief Executive Officer of the Green Cities Incorporated, which operates Liberia’s first waste segregation and recycling enterprise.

At a news conference on Thursday, December 7, LISWA president, J. Saah Joe Kendamah and Secretary-General, Livinus Eugene Nwosu indicated that they have decided to propose Mulbah from the Solid Waste Sector to ensure that he gets appointed as Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation.

They emphasized that the city does not need a politician, rather a technocrat like Mulbah who has a proven record in the waste management sector of Liberia, and will automatically make the difference when given the opportunity to serve or appointed by President-elect Boakai.

The Liberia Solid Waste Management Association leaders said they would work towards raising awareness among the public about the importance of waste management and promoting environmentally friendly practices. 

“Liberian people will benefit from their waste, especially the solid waste if our cities have technicians and not politicians. Additionally, a technician,” the Association said, “would be taking a significant step towards improving the overall cleanliness and health of its cities, while also contributing to the protection of the environment.”

Mulbah, who stands tall among his colleagues is a graduate of the University of Liberia (UL) with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. He also obtained a post graduate diploma in Strategic Business Management from the Swedish Institute for Public Administration sponsored by SIDA and he is currently a candidate for master Degree in International Relations at the University of Liberia. 

He served as the first Secretary on the Board of the first Pan African E Waste Management Network called Sustainable Digital Development Alliance of Africa with head office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mulbah has received numerous certificates and accolades including Certificate in Financial Management from the World Bank Group IFC, Certificate in Electronic Waste Recycling at Ateliers De Formations Industrielles in Switzerland, Advance certificate in Solid waste management (World Bank), Advance certificate in Entrepreneurship/ Business management University of Wisconsin Stout (UW Stout) –USA, Advance Certificate in Organic Fertilizer Production Songhai Liberia Initiative, Certificate in Entrepreneurship Richard Branson Entrepreneurship Program (South Africa), Diploma in Inclusive E waste Recycling (GIZ sponsored program in South Africa), and a Certificate from a Trainer of Trainers Workshop Business Labs Methology.

Others are the Golda Meir MASHAV Carmel International Training Center, and certificate in Bio Digester Toilet construction from Drillix Ghana Limited. He is a Licensed Environmental Evaluator, trained and Licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia.

Mulbah served as a member of the United States Ambassador to Liberia (Deborah R. Malac) Council of Youth Advisors and also served on the Regional Advisory Board of West Africa of the Mandela Washington Fellowship from 2014-2015, where he represented Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

Mulbah served as the President of the State Exchange Alumni of Liberia-SEAL (2019-2023) a network of professionals who benefited from the US government sponsorship programs. 

In 2014, he received the Most Innovative Entrepreneur Award by Business Start-up Center in partnership with SPARK, Bid network, and Accountability Lab.

In 2016, he was appointed by the former Vice President of the Republic of Liberia as Environmental Adviser to his office. James is a 2018 United States-Africa Entrepreneurship Award winner. 

Mulbah has worked with the following partners: USAID, USADF, US Embassy Liberia, SIDA, Global Communities, ActionAid Liberia, UNDP, UNMIL, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Fair recycling Corporation, Julius Baer Foundation, Peter Baumann Foundation, REPIC, Inno Recycling, GIZ, World Bank Liberia, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Temperatio and Mercy Corps.