Plastic waste is becoming a health problem- GHS

Accra Nov.6, GNA- Dr Sam Agyei, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Thursday said littering of plastic waste in the country's cities was becoming a health problem.

He said apart from the plastic waste, there is the breeding of mosquitoes as most drainages, were choked as result of0 these plastics. "The littering of plastics in the metropolis do not even serve good signals to prospective investors who may even visit the country", he said.

He therefore called on District Assemblies to identify producers of sachet water and levy them and use the money to clear the waste. Dr Agyei was speaking to the GNA in Accra after attending a 12-day Training of Trainers workshop on collaboration between GHS and the District Assemblies in Accra.

He said it takes 100 years for plastic waste to decompose properly and called for a proactive action plan to address the problem. The Deputy Director-General said the implementation of laws over the years had not yielded fruitful results, adding that the country did not have the facilities in decomposing plastic wares hence the spillage of plastic waste on our streets.

"In UK producers of bottled water have been made to pay fees to clear the plastic waste and this could also be implemented in Ghana. He said district assemblies could ask the public to collect some of the garbage of sachets for a fee, adding that all must get involved to clear the city of garbage.