Manufacturers say ban on plastic products not eminent

Accra, July 27 GNA - There is no imminent ban on sachet water and polythene products by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in the capital, Mr. Ebbo E. Botwe, President of the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association (GPMA), said on Friday.

He said the AMA and various stakeholders in the plastic industry had been holding high-level consultations on the way out of the current impasse and how to tackle the plastic waste menace in the metropolis. Mr. Botwe gave the assurance during a sensitisation campaign on plastic waste disposal and management at the St. Monica Preparatory Primary and Junior Secondary School in Accra.

The programme, which is sponsored by the Poly Group of Companies, was to educate the school children on the proper disposal of plastic waste and how to manage such waste.

Mr Botwe said the various stakeholders had shown great commitment to the problem and had shown good faith and trust to work with the AMA. He said the objectives of the Association to mount education campaigns at various schools across the country was to inculcate in the youth a certain behavioural trait needed to manage and dispose of plastic waste in their communities.

Mr. Botwe said the school children were the best segment of the population, who could be used to champion the new behavioural change required to transform the society on the disposal of plastic waste. He also said more companies had expressed interest in going into recycling of plastic waste and two more recycling plants would be established at Kumasi and Takoradi.

Mr. Daniel Kofi Aidoo, Human Resource Manager of Poly Group, who represented Mr. Ashok Mohinani, Chief Executive of Poly Group, urged the pupils to maintain a clean environment and dispose of plastic waste properly.

He said constant education of the youth on plastic waste was key to resolving its menace in the society. The Poly Group of Companies presented the school with litterbins and brooms for collection of plastic waste around the compound. 27 July 07