The National Senior High School Plastic Recovery Project to promote waste segregation education in the country and train students on effective waste management has been launched in Accra.
It is on the “Innovation Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production.”
The project is an initiative of ToaHouse, a construction firm, with support from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and JSA Logistics Ghana Limited.
Ten dustbins and four tricycles estimated at the cost of Gh¢30,000 were presented to the Legon Presbyterian, Fafraha Community and the West Africa Senior High Schools to kick-start the project and to promote Eco-literacy on plastic pollution, as well as increase awareness and knowledge.
Dr Angela Tena Mensah, the Divisional Director of Secondary Education Division of the GES in her solidarity message, described the rate of plastic waste pollution in the country as very alarming and worse, adding that most of the plastics were non-degradable.
She advised the students to make a difference by using less plastic materials and choose other alternatives in their daily consumption.
Dr Mensah expressed the commitment of the GES in support of the project saying “the Service is optimistic that in the near future, we are going to see a sanitised environment across the country and the GES would provide ToaHouse the needed support to ensure the success of the programme.”
Mr Paul Coffie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ToaHouse, disclosed that the project would also develop innovative solutions to help stop plastics from reaching water ways through improved recycling and waste management.
Mr Coffie stated that the ToaHouse would train and build capacity of teachers to handle the innovative clubs in second cycle schools in Accra.
He said ToaHouse, as part of its mandate would provide about 1,000 dustbins and 15 tricycles for hundred schools in Accra during the pilot stage.
Mr David Odjidja, the Headmaster of Legon Presbyterian Senior High School, said that the plastic waste menace was becoming an environmental challenge, saying that the commencement of the project would equip students with education on how to dispose off plastic waste.
Mr Odjidja commended management of ToaHouse for embarking on such a laudable project in the country.
Mrs Hannah Boahemaa Otu, the General Manager of JSA Logistics Ghana, encouraged the students to be part of the fight to save Accra from plastic waste pollution.
“The JSA commends ToaHouse for this initiative and we are expecting you to engage our students in necessary activities to avoid excessive plastic waste from affecting our land, food and health,” she stated.
BY EVANGEL KELVIN AINOO
