President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday launched a national initiative that will see the country join the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) project aimed at addressing and managing the environmental impact of plastic waste in the country.
The Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), a collaboration with the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), is expected to tackle the leakage of plastic into Ghana’s oceans and waterways.
GPAP, an alliance with the World Economic Forum, has an objective of tackling the pollution of the planet from plastics by engaging governments, regional bodies, international organizations, businesses, as well as civil society organizations to avert the growth in global plastic pollution by 2025.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, President Akufo-Addo described plastic pollution as one of the most pressing challenges facing the world, as well as a threat to the survival of the human race and “that is why confronting this challenge demands the active partnership and cooperation of all nations.”
According to him, through the launch of the NPAP. Ghana is taking “a historic step forward in our environmental stewardship, our sustainable growth, and our vision for the future.”
The GPAP is supported by the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom, the Coca Cola Company, Pepsi Cola and Nestle. With Ghana formally joining the GPAP, it has become the first African country and the second country globally to align with the initiative to eradicate plastic waste and pollution worldwide.
President Akufo-Addo told the gathering which included sustainable development advisers, policymakers, business leaders, youth representatives, entrepreneurs and waste management experts, that on assumption of office in 2017, he tasked the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to develop a strategy to combat the challenges with the management of plastics.
The directive resulted in the National Plastics Management Policy that has attracted the attention of the global community and has led to a partnership with the World Economic Forum. The Policy not only focuses on how to address plastic waste but takes a holistic view of the entire value-chain of plastics, with the aim of using it as a vehicle for sustainable development.
The Policy seeks to reduce the use of plastics and promote their replacement with green alternatives.
The President pledged Ghana’s commitment NPAP and expressed the hope that the partnership with GPAP would enable Ghana to achieve its policy objectives and vision for a sustainable future.
“I believe that there is a need for significant behavioral change, and I am happy with the prominence that has been given to it in the implementation of the draft National Plastics Management Policy.
“Ghana, after this process, will make best efforts to be a model for other countries in the region and on the continent on issues related to plastic management,” he said.