By Godwill Arthur- Mensah
Accra, June 05, GNA–More than 95 per cent of recovered plastic waste in Ghana are collected by the informal plastic operators.
Therefore, to boost plastic waste collection and recycling in Ghana, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology has selected some plastic recycling companies and supporting them through a Circular Economy framework under the National Plastic Management Policy with funding from the Global Environment Facility.
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad, the Sector Minister, made this known in a statement read on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, ahead of the commemoration of 2025 World Environment Day on June 5.
This year’s global theme for World Environment Day is: “Beat Plastic Pollution” with local sub theme, “Let’s Re-think Plastic Solution Right Now”.
The day is observed annually on June 5 to raise awareness about the harmful impact of plastic waste on ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
The Minister announced that President John Dramani Mahama would use the occasion to launch the “One Child, One Tree” initiative to encourage every child to plant a tree in their communities and nurture a tree to maturity as a way of instilling in the youth environmental stewardship.
The Minister noted that the theme for the celebration was apt as it called for a change in attitude towards plastic use and disposal aimed at engendering sustainable environmental management.
The Minister stated that the Ministry was working collaboratively with private sector partners to roll-out targeted educational campaigns and school-based environmental clubs to inculcate in the youth environmental stewardship.
Dr Murtala Muhammad, therefore, encouraged every Ghanaian to embrace the local slogan for the celebration “Let’s Re-think Plastic Solution Right Now” to help transform the way plastic waste is managed in the country.
The Minister said government would collaborate with the private sector, academia and CSOs in ensuring sustainable plastic waste recycling, improving collection and supporting innovative recycling businesses, as well as developing alternative single-use plastics.
“Our goal is to transition to a circular economy where waste becomes a resource, and sustainable development becomes a reality,” the Minister stated.
Ghana generates 840,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually with approximately 9.5 per cent being recycled.
The remaining ones end up in landfill sites, drains, water bodies and food chains, thus blocking waterways and endangering human health and marine life respectively.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah