Report by: Ishmael Barfi
Government of Ghana has been called upon to enact laws that will compel producers of plastic products to establish recycling plants to curb the plastic menace in the country.
This according to the Chief Executive Officer of the ‘Let Go Clean the Beach and Recycling Project’ in Ghana, Mr. David Kafui Kumordzi popularly known as Togbe Ghana will help in the fight against plastic products seen on the beaches, street and Environment.
The establishment of a recycling plant will not only curb the plastic menace but also create employment by making sure that people go around the country to recollect all used products to be recycled.
Tasking producers of plastic products in the country to invest in recycling plants at advantage points across the country is the surest way to keep the cities and beaches clean and plastic free, Mr. Kumordzi emphasized.
“Many of these plastic bottle wastes found at the beaches and the environment are produced by these plastic bottling companies but have no mechanism in place to get them out of the society” hence enacting laws to task plastic producers is of importance.
Enact laws to compel producers of plastic products to invest in recycling plant- Togbe Ghana to Government
The Chief Executive Officer of the “Let Go Clean the Beaches” made this call in Accra last Friday, January 28, 2022 while briefing the media on a campaign dubbed ‘Let’s Go Clean the Beach and Recycling Project where people are employed on daily basis to clean the beaches to promote tourism in the country.
At the media encounter, he indicated that, the day, Friday 28, 2022 coincides with World Action Against Climate Change hence sees the urgency to call on government and key stakeholders to put measures in place to address the plastic products menace in the country especially the beaches.
In his small way, he revealed that, his team cleans most the beaches every Sunday where they sort plastics, aluminum cans, glasses and wood and recycle plastics into pavement bricks.
He said the company which was established in 2019 pays 24 workers weekly to help clean and give out free tools, t shirt’s, gloves, nose masks, food, drinks and water to all volunteers to help in cleaning the beaches.
“We do clean the South Labadi Estate Beach and La Tawala Beach every Sunday and Accra Arts Center Beach every last Saturday of each month,” he stated.
This he noted is boost the tourism industry as well as promoting the name of Ghana on the international map of tourism.
Enact laws to compel producers of plastic products to invest in recycling plant- Togbe Ghana to Government
To ease their work, he explained that, a sorting center has been built at the Accra Arts Center Beach where sorting of plastics products take place for recycling of these plastic products into pavement bricks.
Speaking of his good works, he noted that, he has received awards and recognitions citing the Ghana Best Stop Galamsey Ambassador, as well as Sanitation and Environmental Personality of the Year 2020 /2021.
Mr. Kumordzi who is also a musician said his company is aimed at educating society, creating of awareness and cleaning of the beaches thus keeping Ghana clean and creation of jobs and protecting the mother earth.
“We have partnered with Beach token for every Sunday beach clean up and Mondo4africa for every last Saturday of each month beach clean-up for this year”, he said.
“However appealed to other partners, volunteers and Non Governmental Organisations to come on board to help them with sponsorship to enable them to buy more cleaning tools, pay more workers to clean, buy more t-shirts, gloves nose mask, food, water and drinks to continue collecting the plastic products waste at the beaches across the country.
To strengthen the campaign, he revealed that, they will soon start a door to door collection of plastics for recycling which will require moving vans.
“We looking for land, funding to buy bigger recycling machines, build a warehouse and start production of the pavement bricks,” he added.
Therefore Mr Kumordzi called on the government of Ghana and other key stakeholders in the sanitation industry to support them hence work together to ensure the beaches are clean to bost tourism.
“We are also calling on community members to join us in cleaning and urged them to stop the open easing of themselves as well as throwing of rubbish at the beaches.
He also used the occasion to advise all operating businesses along the beaches to keep their frontage clean, provide waste bins for their client’s and support the campaign.
To spice up the campaign, he noted that, a reggae song had been produced to talks about how one can go about keeping the surroundings and reducing wastes , reuse wastes and recycling wastes.
“We are looking at organising mixtapes, musical concerts and tours to other regions to create more awareness and advocacy on plastic products and it’s usefulness, thus recycling and resuse of them.
Source: www.thenrwindependentonline.com
