McKingtorch Africa is turning plastic waste into classroom desks and roofing tiles, offering a practical response to pollution and Ghana’s shortage of school furniture, according to the company’s chief executive, Mr. Makafui Awuku.
Speaking on Springboard Hangout with host Comfort Ocran, Mr. Awuku explained that the idea grew from seeing children learn on bare floors while plastic waste was being burned in their communities.
“There are children learning on the bare floor across the country while adults are burning plastics in these communities,” he said, describing why he began exploring ways to turn discarded plastic into useful products.
The company makes boards from recycled plastic and uses them to produce desks and roofing tiles. A pilot project used 1,200 tiles to roof a three-unit building, consuming more than 1.6 million sachet bags, according to Mr. Awuku.
He added that new equipment has expanded production capacity to as many as 150,000 roofing tiles in two weeks. The pilot took more than six months to complete. The company has received interest from coastal communities, where salt in the air can cause metal roofing to rust.
Mr. Awuku said the roofing material can be nailed or screwed into place, and the same recycling process produces the boards used for desks.
McKingtorch Africa has about 10 in-house employees and works with more than 15 people indirectly through its value chain. The company aims to expand beyond Accra and create more jobs from 2027, including opportunities for women, young people and people with disabilities.
Mr. Awuku also encouraged households to reuse shopping bags, avoid unnecessary packaging and keep plastic waste clean for recycling. The company operates more than 500 plastic drop-off receptacles in schools, churches, communities and private institutions, according to him.
He traced his work with plastic waste to 2017, when he collected discarded bottles and made a Christmas tree. His efforts were also motivated by his experience with asthma and smoke from burning plastic.
“There is so much wealth and opportunities in deciding to do something about the pollution problem,” Mr. Awuku said, urging young people to explore recycling, innovation and other ways to address waste in their communities.
Watch full episode here
About Springboard Hangout
Springboard Hangout is a funducative, youth-centred show hosted by Comfort Ocran. It features inspiring stories, practical skills and real-life experiences aimed at educating, entertaining and equipping the next generation. The programme airs every Saturday at 4:00 PM on Joy Prime TV and on the Springboard Channel on Facebook and YouTube.
Marketing & Communications
Springboard Road Show Foundation