Obuasi Observes World Environment Day with Grand Durbar and Awards

The mining town of Obuasi joined the International Community to celebrate World Environment Day at a colourful ceremony over the weekend.

Speaking at the event, the Obuasi Area Head of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Mr. Prempeh Adarkwa Yiadom, noted the slogan “Rethink Plastic pollution. Act Now,” calls on us to confront one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time – the scourge of plastic waste choking our lands, rivers and oceans.

“Here in Obuasi and across Ghana”, he noted, “Plastic pollution clogs our drains, contaminates our soil and threatens our water bodies”.

Mr. Prempeh Adarkwa Yiadom was of the view that plastics per se are not a problem, but said how we use it and the way we dispose of them is the problem.

He charged Ghanaians to be creative enough to turn plastic containers into planters, art or household tools and say no to single use of plastics like straws, take-away bags and disposable bottles.

In a speech read for him, Mr. George O. Ansah, Senior Manager in charge of Environment at AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) said the company had always been alert on its commitment towards environmental stewardship and that it has aligned itself to the resolve by the rest of the world to stem the tide of plastic pollution.

“It is for this reason that together with our partners we lined up impactful activities, including essay and debate competitions, waste segregation and plastic waste innovation challenge targeted at ending plastic pollution.

Mr. Ansah expressed appreciation to the EPA, Underground Mining Alliance (UMA) AGAMAL, GES and the Local Authorities for their support towards the success of this year’s commemoration.

Mr. Lawrence Turkson, National project Manager UMA said his outfit had identified, engaged, trained and built capacity of individual plastic waste collectors who are now the superheroes of Environmental Sustainability in Obuasi.

“We have sparked motivation in both collectors and the Obuasi community. Obuasi collectors are not just picking up plastic, but they are picking up a purpose for a greener tomorrow,” Mr. Turkson added.

The MCE for Obuasi East, Mr. William Kofi Adzowu, while thanking AGA and its partners for the programme, called for good behaviour and attitudinal change on the part of the citizens in the use of plastics in the society.

He suggested that thirty minutes of every Basic School life be devoted for “Plastics Safety” to educate the pupils and students on the correct use of plastics.Prizes were given to schools that distinguished themselves in competitions as part of activities to mark World Environment Day.

Apagya SHS came first in the debate on Environment, while Owusu Sampa Basic School came first in the Waste Segregation Challenge with Obuasi Senior High Technical School winning the Plastic Waste Innovation Challenge.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

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