CFAO Ghana Inauguration of Plastic Collection Centre in Nungua
Over 350 million metric tons of plastics is produced annually across the world and only 14-18% of that is actually recycled. Ghana is not excluded from this global threat, which is taking over marine life and beaches. Most coastal communities in Ghana also face the threat of suffocation from the growing menace of plastic waste.
Poor disposal of plastic waste has also become an important social and environmental concern, even though it appears to have zero cost. But there is a cost, to the whole of society and the environment. The cost of waste collection, health impacts, loss of natural capital and loss of plastics value amounts to trillions of dollars all over the world.
Against this background, CFAO Ghana PLC, the authorised dealer of Mitsubishi & Suzuki vehicles in Ghana, in collaboration with BizGPS, Coastal Development Authority (CODA) and SESA Recycling Limited remained committed to impact the coastal community in Nungua with its high presence of plastic pollution, through the establishment of a sustainable Plastic Collection Centre on the Nungua fishing shore.
Speaking at the inauguration of the centre on Wednesday 11th May, 2022, the Managing Director of CFAO Ghana PLC, Mr. Paulo Fernandes stated that ‘The target for this collection centre is to encourage plastic recycling in the fishing communities and avoid the disposal into the ocean and drainage systems. ‘The target is to collect around 250 tons per year of plastic waste… The plastic bottles will be collected through storage containers displayed in the neighbourhood and people will be encouraged to collect the plastic through a reward-for-recycling scheme.’ He added that the scheme would go a long way to turn waste into worth for future generations of the Nungua community.
In addition to the centre CFAO Ghana PLC also contributed two Suzuki Super Carry pickups, as part of CFAO’s CSR Initiative, which will be able to transport a daily capacity of 250 kilograms of plastic waste from the 50 neighbourhood storage containers located in churches and schools, to the collection centre.
Also present at the launch event to help inaugurate the centre was Honourable Moses Anim, the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Trobu Constituency, Greater Accra Region, who commended the organisations for their laudable collaboration, called for more stakeholders to embark on similar projects to help their communities. He also reiterated government’s strategies to help save the fishing industry and coastal communities against the menace of plastic pollution.
During his speech, the CEO of Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaibu ESQ made an earnest call to traditional leaders and the people of the community to have a duty of care towards keeping their environment clean by participating in this initiative to turn waste into worth for future generations.
Solomon Okoro, CEO of BizGPS Solutions expressed pride in his organisation’s involvement in the project and highlighted the impact of plastic waste on the beaches, fishing shores and community draining systems.
The CEO the SESA Recycling Centre, Mr Ghislain de Castries applauded CFAO Ghana PLC and Biz GPS for the collaboration resulting in the Nungua Collection Centre and also thanked the traditional leaders and members of their community for their cooperation in making the project a successful one.