Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong keeps Ghana clean. He founded Zoomlion Ghana Limited and more than 30 other businesses. He started from very humble beginning selling exercise books in his mother’s bookstore but now owns a lot of companies in Ghana, Africa and the Middle East. He is a self-made multimillionaire.
His Early Years and Education
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong attended both primary and middle school at Teshie Nungua Preparatory School in Accra. He went on to attend the Royal Technical Institute at Nungua where he studied for the City and Guilds of London Certificate which is a vocational education qualification and apprenticeship. In 1990, he graduated from the Royal Technical Institute with a certificate in Electrical Engineering Technician (Part II).
His childhood dream was to become a pilot or a marine engineer so he intended to continue his education at the Accra Polytechnic. He wanted to obtain a diploma at Accra Polytechnic or at the Ghana Nautical College. He bought two application forms from Accra Polytechnic and Ghana Nautical College but he was not able to apply because he changed his mind.
His Professional Life
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong’s mother sells exercise books in a small shop in Accra. She fell seriously ill. Joseph Siaw had no choice but to take care of her mother’s small shop. Joseph surprised everyone when he grew his mother’s small shop very rapidly making a lot of profits. His father advised him to direct his interest from engineering to business. He took his father’s advice.
Joseph used the profits he made from the book business from the shop and set up a printing press called Jospong Printing Press in a small room at Jamestown, Accra. Her mother was well by that time and help Joseph with the printing press business. He managed to grow the business successfully and in the process setting up new businesses.
Hard work, determination, persistence and the blessing of God was all that it Joseph to set up more than 32 businesses and counting. He owns companies in different industries namely oil and gas, publishing, ICT, automobile, plant and equipment, financial services, skill development, public health and safety, logistics and supply chain, mining, construction, waste management and real estate.
Currently, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong owns 8 companies in other parts of Africa and the Middle East. Jospong Group of Companies represents 16 Chinese companies, 8 Indian companies and 5 European companies in Ghana.
He founded the popular waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited in 2006. His innovative method of waste management has helped keep Ghana clean. Zoomlion has won several awards from the Government of Ghana and other institutions.
His Awards and Recognition
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong has received a lot of recognition for his endeavours. His leadership and entrepreneurial skills has earned him and his company a number of awards. Here are some of them:
Overall Best Entrepreneur in the Maiden Ghana Entrepreneurs Award in 2011.
Finalist in the Ernst &Young for the Masters Category.
KNUST Conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Literature on Joseph Siaw Agyepong in 2011 for his contribution to waste management and higher education in Ghana.
Ghana’s Most Influential Industrialist for 2011.
Voted Fifth Most Respected CEO in Ghana in 2012.
Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyemang said in an interview in the Junior Graphic “ It will interest you to know that the fear of the Lord, hard work, dedication, zeal and faithfulness to God and men are some of the values which have propelled me to greater heights.”
