Accra, July 9, GNA – The Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office, in partnership with the Catholic Education Unit of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has organised the fourth edition of the STEM Plastic Waste Management Competition for Catholic senior high schools in the middle sector to promote innovative solutions to plastic pollution.
The competition, held in Kumasi, forms part of a flagship initiative aimed at encouraging students to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) knowledge to develop practical and community-based solutions to plastic waste management challenges.
Speaking to journalists, Ms Lawrencia Akosua Pomaa, Programmes Manager of KAS Ghana, said the initiative reflected the Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people to contribute to addressing environmental problems.
She said plastic waste had become a major environmental concern, contributing to flooding and other challenges, and stressed the need to equip the younger generation with innovative skills to tackle the problem.
Referring to the recent floods in Accra, Ms Pomaa noted that improper plastic waste disposal remained one of the factors contributing to flooding and loss of lives.
She said the competition also sought to highlight the economic value of plastic waste by encouraging students to develop products that could generate income through recycling.
In a speech read on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by Mr James Otwey Junior, the Agency described plastic pollution as one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The statement said plastic waste contributed to flooding, polluted rivers and oceans, and posed risks to both environmental and human health.
It said the competition provided an opportunity for students to demonstrate creativity, environmental responsibility and practical solutions that could support a cleaner and more sustainable Ghana.
At the end of the contest, Our Lady of Grace Senior High School in the Ashanti Region emerged overall winner.
The other participating schools were Catholic Technical Institute, St. Augustine’s Senior High School and St. Joseph Senior High School.
Students exhibited a range of products made from recycled plastic waste, including Christmas trees and decorative items for interior and exterior use.
Mr Francis Batadjon, General Manager of Catholic Schools, said the Catholic Education Unit was proud to partner with KAS Ghana on the initiative.
He said the programme was helping to create awareness of the harmful effects of plastic waste while providing students with an opportunity to contribute ideas towards addressing environmental challenges.
The top three schools received materials worth GHS10,000, as well as educational materials, including dustbins and calculators donated by Adminex Academy. All participating schools received certificates.
GNA
George Agboklu