Plastic pollution is threatening Accra’s environment, livelihoods — Ga traditional leaders
He said the problem is particularly worrying because plastic waste is not only degrading the environment but also threatening livelihoods, including fishing.
Ga traditional leaders have expressed deep concern over the escalating plastic pollution crisis in Accra, warning of its detrimental effects on the environment, livelihoods, and public health. Highest Chief Priest Nuumo Akwaa Mensah III of the Ga State emphasized that the issue has far-reaching consequences beyond mere environmental degradation.
Fishing communities, in particular, are suffering as declining catches directly correlate with the worsening plastic waste problem. Despite numerous attempts by NGOs, local authorities, and various stakeholders, progress remains elusive. The chiefs urged the national government to take responsibility for this issue and hold plastic producers accountable for their role in the crisis.
They also advocated for sustainable alternatives in food packaging, citing hotels' efforts to switch to paper bags and wooden cutlery as a promising step. Chief Fisherman Nii Abeo Okyerekuanda V echoed these sentiments, stressing the urgent need for action to address the problem's impact on James Town's fishing community. Fishermen themselves acknowledged the growing presence of plastic in the marine environment, lamenting that their catches are increasingly dominated by waste rather than fish.
The situation was highlighted during a three-day training session focused on plastic pollution and climate change communication, organized by the National Climate and Environmental Communications Initiative alongside various partners.
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