'Re-introduction of Environmental studies in schools'

Mr. Ernest Amankrah Afrifa, a lecturer at the Environmental Sciences Department of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on has advocated the re-introduction of Environmental Studies into the academic curriculum of the various educational institutions to instill good sanitation practices in the youth.

He pointed out that, the youth were the appropriate people to be given such training since the older ones have already formed their perception about the environment.

Mr Afrifa said this at the end of a 10 day “Recycle up Ghana Summer Camp 2015” programme, which was sponsored by Technology Without Borders, a German-Ghanaian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and supported by ANOPA Project.

The programme, with the theme “Creating local solutions to the waste problems in the country,’ was attended by more than 17 students from various second cycle institutions in the Central region.

The participants brainstormed on plastic waste pollution and its adverse consequences on the community as well as developing local solutions for tackling the problems.

Mr Afrifa praised Recycle Up Ghana for the initiative and stressed that, “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, we the older generation have already formed our opinions and perceptions and it will be very difficult to change so if we are able to inculcate into the youth good sanitation practices, they will grow up into adults and manage our waste properly”.

Mr. Sampson Oboh, the Regional leader of Recycle Up Ghana, said the project was one of the measures that would go a long way to address the problem of sanitation in Ghana.

He explained that young people were chosen for the project because it was necessary to inculcate the habit of good sanitation practices in them, adding that, “its a good starting point to holistically address Ghana’s waste management problems”.

Dr. Mrs. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, a climate scientist from the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission said though the National Sanitation Day Exercise was a good initiative, there was the need for a more intensive public education to change people’s attitude about sanitation issues.

She urged the Government and other stakeholders to consider sponsoring such initiatives to bring young people together to deliberate on sanitation issues and provide ideas that would help solve the problem of waste management.

The participants were given certificate to act as Recycle Up ambassadors in their communities and at their respective schools.