By Erica Apeatua Addo
Akyempim (W/R), July 7, GNA- AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine has organized a forum on plastic waste reduction to end activities for this year’s World Environment Day celebration under the theme dubbed “Ending Plastic Pollution”.
The impactful forum was attended by traditional leaders, regulators, environmental stewards, employees of Iduapriem Mine and students from Junior High and Senior High Schools.
Speaking at the function, Mr Abraham Osei Badu, Acting Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, said the theme for this year’s event underscored the importance of mobilizing transformative action from every corner of the world to reduce plastic pollution.
He expressed concern that plastic pollution had become a global crisis, endangering the ecosystem, wildlife, and human health.
“According to the World Bank, an estimated 86 per cent of Ghana’s waste is plastic load, with an estimated 250,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste dumped from Ghana into the Atlantic Ocean every year “he stated.
Mr Badu said “Another disturbing statistic is the fact that a total of 8 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the Ocean every year. What it means is that by 2050, there will be more plastics than fish in the Ocean, if we do not take urgent collective action”.
Following the troubling development, he said, the Mine decided to hold the forum to raise awareness on the impact of plastic pollution, showcase some of their interventions on plastic management, inspire behavioural change and mobilize collective action for environmental protection and sustainability.
He added that as a responsible company, they demonstrated their dedication to the environment and took a bold decision in October 2023 to ban single-use plastics on their site.
The ban brought about the complete halt to the use of single-use items like takeaway packs, disposable cups and spoons in their canteens and restaurants, Mr Badu indicated
In addition, he said “We have been able to launch a successful recycling programme, where plastic bottles are collected with the aid of giant bins situated at vantage locations in the Mine”.
He stressed further that all waste generated on their site were required to be segregated at source, which included separating recyclables, particularly plastics, for future recycling.
Mr Badu called on those who were present at the forum to share the knowledge they had acquired on plastic pollution to their friends, family, and colleagues, and encouraged them to join the cause against plastic pollution.
Mr Emmanuel Inkoom, Assistant Programme Officer at EPA, Tarkwa, highlighted that plastics could be classified into micro plastics, macro plastics, and Nano plastics.
He mentioned that the most dangerous once was micro plastics and those tiny plastics could be absorbed into the tissues of fish and other aquatic species.
“So, health-wise you may opt for fish instead of red meat, but you may end up buying fish contaminated with plastics and this can put your health at risk” Mr Inkoom said
He called on Ghanaians to help safeguard the environment for their well-being and generations to come.
Miss Priscilla Agyemang, Assistant Officer from Water Management Ankobra Basin, on her part said, when plastics entered their rivers, streams, and groundwater, it did not only affect aquatic life and people, but the water quality as well.
She lauded Iduapriem Mine for their effort to minimize plastic use on their site, and motivated other organizations to adopt similar practices.
Miss Agyemang said, “at times, some of these initiatives sparked pushback and difficulties, but Water Resources Commission is exhorting Iduapriem Mine to keep up the good work”.
The World Environment Day is commemorated globally on June 5 every year to create awareness and call for action to protect the environment.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade