Government To Stop Using Wooden Furniture in Schools, Ban Import of Styrofoam Food Packs
- The government plans to stop the use of wood in the production of school furniture and ban the importation and production of Styrofoam packs
- President John Mahama explained that these moves aim to preserve the country’s trees
- The president also described Styrofoam as one of the most harmful pollutants and suggested alternatives
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The Mahama administration plans to stop the use of wood in the production of school furniture as part of a broader effort to protect Ghana’s environment.
It also plans to ban the importation and production of Styrofoam packs.
Source: Facebook
Speaking during World Environment Day celebrations at Kwabenya, President John Mahama explained that these moves aim to preserve the country’s trees and promote the use of sustainable materials such as recycled plastic and metal.
Mahama also described Styrofoam as one of the most harmful pollutants and stressed the urgent need for alternative materials.
“We can’t be planting trees and cutting them down at the same time... and so to reduce the cutting of trees, it is my intention to issue a directive to stop the use of wood for school furniture. We’re soon going to pass a directive."
“One of the most polluters is Styrofoam plastics, where you go and buy your food, and they put it in that whitish something, and you finish eating, you just dump it. That is one of the biggest polluters. And so, we’re going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics.
Mahama suggested paper packaging or aluminium foil for food as an alternative to the styrofoam packs, which are widely used by food vendors, among others.
"I’m informing the manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam that the Ministry of Environment, soon we are going to ban the importation of Styrofoam and production of Styrofoam in Ghana."
Startup making desks from plastic waste
Makafui Awuku leads Mckingtorch Africa, a startup that transforms plastic waste into school desks and beautiful art pieces.
He explained that after noticing how much waste was present in Accra, he sought a way to help reduce the capital city's plastic filth.
Plastic waste accounts for about 90 per cent of the filth in Accra, leading to calls for a ban on plastics to solve the challenge.
However, Makafui and his people at Mckingtorch Africa make several things from plastic, and that is their contribution to saving the environment.
Source: Instagram
He said their startup had found a creative way of making something from plastic waste and keeping their hands busy by transforming the waste into 'basically anything'.
Meanwhile, Mckingtorch Africa donated some longarm shovels to Buzstop Boys to help with their voluntary work.
Ghanaian man gives Buzstop Boys $100
YEN.com.gh reported that a stranger gifted Buzstop Boys $100 when he saw them working on the streets.
Nii Crabbe was impressed by the work the volunteers were doing and wanted to show them his appreciation.
He urged Ghanaians to support the Buzstop Boys wherever possible, so they can continue their efforts, which have been widely praised as transformative for the country.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
