A former National Security Coordinator Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah has backed calls on the ban on plastics in the country, saying that he had warned government six years ago about the dangers it poses to the environment.
“You wouldn’t believe it but on 3rd of June 2009, six years ago, I warned the government that something ought to be done about plastics because they will destroy our environment, they will pose threats which we may not be able to contain. Exactly on the 3rd of June, six years on, we had this problem, so we need to take action now,” he stated.
This follows President Mahama’s caution to plastic producers that the use of plastics would be banned should the producers fail to ensure the right disposal of such materials.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Xx2JSmVFjMmhdkbR4As6zjcYIZVtLqph”]He observed that plastic materials are currently the main pollutants of the environment hence the need for proper management of plastic waste in the country.
Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah in an interview with Citi News said action must be taken immediately.
Nunoo Mensah further attributed the June 3 disaster to the lack of proper management of plastic waste , which he said, has led to choked drains.
“Most of our in-land water bodies have been so polluted that fish cannot no longer survive in the lagoons like the Kpeshie, Tsemu or the Korle Lagoon, whereas years ago you can go into these lagoons and catch healthy Tilapia and have a healthy meal. If we don’t deal with this plastic waste, it will destroy us.”
“On June 3rd this year, we had a very devastating flood which claimed so many lives, but indeed I do. The Korle Lagoon which is supposed to take water out into the ocean has been silted with all kinds of materials mainly plastics that don’t rust or decay, they are going to be there for many years. Most of our drains are choked with plastic waste. The water that is supposed to flow through them to the sea do not flow so at the end they flood our towns and cities,” he added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana