The Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called for a holistic debate on the need for a ban on the use of plastics.
Activists have over the years urged government to put in place legislation to ban the manufacture and use of plastic bags in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ksnRJYA9qU2d3cHOfMvhWvkhVEAhR2ut”]They argued that using paper to produce packing materials will be more environmentally friendly.
The World Bank in 2014 advised government to ban the use of plastic bags in the country, adding that Ghana is far from meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on sanitation.
Following the June 3 floods, the debate on the ban of plastics has resumed mostly on social media and according Amissah-Arthur, the debate must be extended to the traditional media.
The Vice President made this known at the commissioning of Zoompak, a waste transfer station in Accra.
The Zoompak facility will serve as the transfer station for waste collection in the Accra metropolis and will process up to 1,300 tons or 50% of waste generated in Accra daily.
In his address, the Vice President observed that “in the wake of the flood disaster, there’s been considerable debate about whether we should continue to use plastic bags or follow the example of countries that have banned the use of polythene.”
He further recommended that since human activity and businesses continue to generate waste, it is time for more companies begin to consider investing in recycling of plastic bottles to protect the environment as well as create job opportunities for the youth.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @ osamidan