By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, Oct. 19, GNA – NAVA M/A Basic School at Nsawam has emerged victorious in the maiden schools climate change competition organised for selected schools in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality.
The school polled 70 points, followed by second placed Nana Osae Djan Basic School with 67 points, and third placed Adoagyiri R/C Basic School with 65 points.
The others were Nsawam Presby Basic School with 64.5 points and Reverend Father Wieggers Basic School with 63 points.
The five schools received trash bins and baskets for their participation, whereas the winning school was presented with a cash prize in addition to the items received.
The event was organised by the Greener Impact International (GII), a climate and environment advocacy group, in partnership with the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly.
The event formed part of GII’s Campaign Against Methane Emission in Ghana (CAMEG), an initiative aimed at promoting waste segregation and environmental stewardship among students.
Mr Timothy Apeanti, Project Coordinator, Greener Impact International, said they believed that when students were exposed earlier to environmental and climate change advocacy they would champion best practices in their schools and communities.
“We believe as learners they needed to be empowered on environmental issues so that they carry the climate change information.
“Once they have this knowledge, going forward, it will remain with them,” he added.
Mr Apeanti said the competition had built the capacity of the students in environmental and climate change advocacy, which would in turn, make them ambassadors to promote the initiative.
He added that they would be undertaking other initiatives to improve sanitation in the schools, including the formation of environmental clubs to ensure proper sanitation and waste practices in the schools.
Nana Baah Forson, School Health Education Programme Coordinator, Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality, commended the GII for its contribution to sanitation and climate advocacy in the area.
He said sanitation in schools in the Municipality had improved over time through their engagement and partnership with the organisation.
Mr Forson added that they would intensify efforts to ensure proper waste management in schools, and called for the provision of adequate waste bins for waste segregation and recycling.
Mr Philip Kwasi Kadja, Teacher at NAVA M/A Basic School, said the competition had helped improve their knowledge on waste management practices in their school.
He said they had been able to create trash bins from the plastic waste, which they used to collect waste in their school and a designated place for dumping of refuse.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah