The forum which was organised on Tuesday at the Royal Fiesta hotel in Accra brought together stakeholders from government, the plastic producing industry, waste management service providers, the waste recycling industry, NGOs and academia, among others.

The aim of the forum was to present and discuss a first draft version of a National Plastics Management Policy currently under development by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.

The National Plastics Management Policy combines a broad spectrum of measures. It calls for environmental education and creation of awareness, turning plastic waste into a resource for value addition, and using sustainable chemistries as a tool for spearheading innovation and economic development.

The sector Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong- Boateng in his speech delivered at the forum said, “… this forum which is co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and GIZ our partners, present us with the opportunity to discuss thoroughly issues about the sustainable management of plastic wastes looking at trends, emerging issues and best practices from across the world.”

“Indeed, I know that the cross-section of stakeholders gathered here today has rich experiences and contributions that will help the Ministry further work on the draft Plastic Waste Policy that has been developed by the Ministry. We want a policy that is coherent and implementable,” he added.

Plastics play an essential role in our daily lives. It is, however, unfortunately, the terrible disadvantage it besets the environment after its use.

The littering of plastic bags and plastic packaging in our environment is obvious everywhere and its devastating effects are felt every day.

Clogged drains lead to flooding with resulting loss of lives, destruction of property and reduced productivity, as well as the creation of breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats and other rodents.

Most of the littered plastics end up in the sea, and plastics take hundreds of years to decompose in the ocean.

As a result, sea animals die frequently, as they often mistake pieces of plastic floating in the ocean for food

As part of the collaboration between the Ministry and GIZ, a delegation of Ghanaian decision makers and stakeholders will be offered an opportunity to discuss different strategies for plastic waste management with industry stakeholders during a visit to Germany. The visit that will be organized by GIZ under the partnership between Ghana and the North Rhine-Westphalia.

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By Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This, according to Minister of Environment Science and Technology, Professor Frimpong Boateng, will come alongside the development of a Science, Technology and Innovation Fund.

[contextly_sidebar id=”csLOcxK8RSNK5J6Vkdg0Mknor9Mmea6h”]Speaking at a technology exhibition of the Kristo Asafo Church in Accra, Professor Frimpong Boateng assured that the government was putting in a lot of effort to develop research in the country.

He, however, noted the need for administrative structures to ensure prudent use of prospective funds.

“We have been complaining that we don’t have enough money for research and development, In Ghana, we talk a lot without thinking about the administrative financial framework and so on. So if someone is given 1 billion dollars now, we would not know how to administer it, he stated.

Thus, Professor Frimpong Boateng added that this was the reason a Science, Technology and Innovation fund was needed “so that when we get the money, we would be able to know how to administer it.”

“This policy document is before Cabinet and when this is approved, our President has promised that in the short term, we would devote one percent of GDP to that fund so that we would have money for research.”

Ghana’s GDP is currently around $45.5 billion.

Professor Frimpong Boateng had previously lamented the allocation of 0.025% of GDP to his ministry for research purposes.

According to him, more is needed in the government’s quest to address the country’s challenges through research and innovation.

In line with its support for research, the Ministry recently took receipt of a $100,000 donation from the Ghana Chamber of Mines towards empowering the next generation of researchers, problem solvers and leaders.

The support was also towards an initiative on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) training programme.

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By: Sammi Wafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 (draft A/70/474/Add.2) declaring 11 February of every year as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The roundtable discussion, on the theme “Gender, Science and Sustainable Development: the way forward” which focused on the challenges faced by females in science and the solutions to these challenges was held on the 8th of February at the Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra.

The discussion saw the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender, UNESCO, UNFPA, the Young Diplomats of Ghana and female science students from across tertiary institutions in the country. Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, well-known as the quiz mistress for the National science and Maths Quiz, presided over the discussions as Moderator.

In his opening remarks, the Head and Country Representative of UNESCO, Mr. Tirso Dos Santos noted that science plays an important role for sustainable development, with women in science playing a more crucial role in ensuring that the world does not only survive but thrives.

He also expressed concerns about the worrying trend of fewer numbers of females pursuing science related careers; “which is the most important stage where the benefits of their involvement in science can be realized and felt by the world at large”.

He therefore called on the various scientific research institutions, technology and engineering companies in Ghana to systematically recruit, train and do all that is possible to empower and retain female scientists in these institutions and industries.

On his part, Mr. Andrew Director of STME of the Ghana Education Service acknowledged that the “Girls in Science Program” under the Ministry of Education has yielded some great results although there is still more to be done. Among various interventions to whip up the interest of girls in science by the ministry is the introduction of a mentorship program at the basic and high school levels.

From the discussions, it was unanimously agreed by all the participants that it was about time more efforts and resources were invested into encouraging females to enter STEM related fields.

It should however not end at the place of whipping up the interests of young females but a well-coordinated collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector to put measures in place to see that they attain great heights in their various disciplines.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post International Day of Women and Girls in Science marked in Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This proposed council will assess technology-based ideas and proposals from deprived, but promising individuals and possibly offer state support.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wUgY6sl4MJQEtUbOlBSwOuWEriVFsxQg”]During his vetting for his nominated portfolio, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng recounted two individuals with potential, but no means, whom he had supported to realise their technological talents.

“We are suggesting to his excellency the President that we should have an advisory council on science and technology where people will serve on it, not on institutional bases, but as individuals from all sections of the society so that children like this one can come, bring ideas, we sort them out and then give them the opportunity to excel.”

One of these individuals, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng narrated, was a drop-out from the Kumasi technical Institute who had some prowess in electrical engineering.

This particular individual rode on further support from other individuals including, the Asantehene and the Dutch embassy, to work with a Dutch company specialising in solar energy.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s point was that the Ghana did not lack the talents but is in need of systems to harness the potential of some brilliant but needy persons who, more often than not, go unnoticed.

“The people are there and every day they come to me so we have to find a forum where we can address this that is why we have said, given the nod, we will set up a business development unit in the ministry so that we promote these things.”

“We need to build a critical mass and when we come above [this challenge], only the sky will be the limit. There are amazing things we can do in this country when we tap the resources, especially those not on the radar,” he said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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