EPA Boss calls for urgent action to curb plastic pollution

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Ghana, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has urged for immediate and collaborative action to tackle plastic pollution and ensure the proper implementation of current policies and regulations. While Ghana has made strides in creating measures to tackle plastic pollution, significant gaps persist between policy formation and practical enforcement.

Professor Klutse emphasized that the country required stronger institutions, improved coordination, sufficient resources, and ongoing public involvement to transform environmental commitments into tangible improvements. She made this call during a Policy Dialogue on Plastic Pollution held in Accra, where stakeholders evaluated Ghana's response to the growing issue and explored practical methods to enhance implementation.

Organized by the EPA in collaboration with the German Embassy under its Environmental Diplomacy Project, the dialogue underscored the necessity of collective effort from government bodies, local authorities, businesses, producers, researchers, civil society organizations, development partners, and communities to effectively address plastic pollution.

Professor Klutse highlighted that plastic waste is increasingly obstructing drainage systems and contaminating rivers, beaches, and coastal areas, leading to adverse effects such as flooding, reduced livelihoods, loss of biodiversity, and public health risks. She stressed that plastic pollution is not solely an environmental issue but also a development challenge impacting communities, businesses, and future generations.

To combat the problem, Professor Klutse proposed that various stakeholders, including government institutions, local authorities, businesses, producers, researchers, civil society organizations, development partners, and communities, need to collaborate. She noted that local authorities require adequate resources, equipment, and technical capabilities to manage waste effectively and enforce environmental regulations.

Without proper support, she explained, local assemblies continue to struggle with waste collection, disposal system maintenance, and prevention of illegal dumping. According to Professor Klutse, producers must assume greater responsibility for the plastic products and packaging they bring into the market. She urged businesses to consider the entire life cycle of their products and support initiatives that facilitate collection, reuse, recycling, and responsible disposal.

She added that the private sector could contribute by investing in recycling facilities, alternative materials, reuse systems, and other strategies that minimize plastic waste generation. These investments could create employment while fostering a cleaner and more sustainable economy. The EPA CEO also advocated for strengthening the National Partnership for Clean Oceans (NPFCO) to unite stakeholders and coordinate national efforts against plastic pollution.

She believed that the Partnership could facilitate information sharing, resource mobilization, public education enhancement, and the development of locally suitable practical solutions among government, businesses, communities, researchers, and development partners. Professor Klutse pointed out that plastic waste discarded on land can eventually reach the ocean via drains, streams, and rivers.

She urged Ghana to adopt preventive measures starting from homes, markets, communities, institutions, and industries. She encouraged the reduction of unnecessary plastic use, promotion of affordable alternatives, increased reuse and recycling, and the development of systems to recover value from plastic waste. She emphasized that these efforts could generate jobs and business opportunities, especially for young people and entrepreneurs in recycling, waste collection, product redesign, and other green enterprises.

Leonie Reese, the Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana, expressed Germany's ongoing commitment to supporting Ghana's efforts to address environmental challenges, including plastic pollution. Ms Reese highlighted that tackling the issue necessitates collaboration among government bodies, businesses, civil society organizations, communities, academia, and development partners.

She emphasized the importance of stronger partnerships to transform policies and discussions into action, boost accountability, and bolster Ghana's efforts to safeguard its environment, waterways, and marine resources.