<<Print>>

Manufacturers of plastics and polythene who are found culpable for refusing to apply OXO-biodegradable additives in their productions as directed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have their working permits withdrawn by the EPA.

The manufacturers have been directed by the EPA to use OXO-biodegradable additives for their plastics and polythene productions to enable the products degrade themselves automatically when exposed to a certain weather condition.

Disclosing this at the 2016 World Environmental Day celebrations in Accra, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Mr Mahama Ayariga, added that the EPA has acquired an equipment to randomly detect whether a product has been produced with the OXO-biodegradable additive or not.

Touching on the ban on plastics and polythene, he said there would not be a total ban, but manufacturers have rather been directed to reduce the micron of the plastic, which tends to cause problems.

According to him, wildlife resources have been especially important for the livelihoods of people living within localities; however, in the process of using these resources to meet a range of socio-economic need, the wildlife resources in Ghana have been severely depleted.

He indicated that 16 per cent of Ghana’s land surface area has been set aside to conserve representative samples of her eco-systems in the form of forest reserves, national parks and other wildlife reserves.

He announced that MESTI, in collaboration with EPA, has initiated public awareness at all levels of society on the importance of greening Ghana.

Mr Ayariga pledged his ministry’s commitment to supporting in the protection of trees and wildlife resource, and called on schools, religious bodies and other stakeholders to support the initiative. 

As part of the celebrations, trees were planted to minimise carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

The trees, which were planted at Michel Camp in Tema, were to reduce the effect of climate change and also intensify public knowledge in protecting the environment.

On his part, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, said the tree planting was in the right direction, especially now that a lot of islands are confronted with dangers such as extreme flood and storm surges, due to the cutting down of trees.

“We are saying let us protect our environment and reduce the impact of climate change, and one way to do so is by planting trees,” he noted.

 Touching on Ghana’s choice of theme, Nii Laryea said it would increase awareness on the effect of climate change and minimisation of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

World Environmental Day, which is celebrated on June 5 every year, was initiated by the United Nations to promote worldwide awareness and action for environmental protection.

This year’s World Environmental Day was on the theme ‘Join the race to Green Ghana and protect wildlife’.