Ban on Plastics: An Antidote to the Filth in Ghana?

Government on Thursday has issued a statement on the ban on plastics – effective 1^st November, 2015.

Three weeks ago, President Mahama stated that, if we can’t handle and manage plastic waste, then we may be forced to go the Rwandan way.

During the 3-week debate over the possibilities of the ban, producers of plastics alluded to the fact that there is an extra tax component paid to government by plastic product importers for plastic waste management in Ghana. How much has been realized from the said special tax imposed on the importation and manufacturing of the plastics over the years? What is the evidence of how the funds have been applied to plastic waste management by present and previous governments? How much is left, and how does government intend applying the leftover funds upon the pronouncement on the ban of plastics? These are equally legitimate questions begging for answers from authorities responsible.

For me, the mere pronouncement on the ban of plastics is cheap, until the law enforcer enforces the law to the letter. A mere mention of ban on plastics would not keep our cities, towns and water bodies clean, but strong political will and overall attitudinal change by citizens.

There are several products – consumable and non-consumables that are banned in this country, but they still find their way into this country. There are fine laws prohibiting the proliferation and sale of fake and substandard drugs in Ghana. These drugs still find their way into Ghana through our porous borders and ports. Ghana today, substandard and fake drugs have gained roots in an era when a certain Food and Drugs Board had metamorphosis into an autonomous Food and Drugs Authority.

As a country, we have always taken public engagement and education on national issues for granted. It has been one of the reasons why most of our fine policies have failed. To what extend have we engaged the public on the need to move away from the dependence on plastics to something biodegradable? What is the level of awareness on the benefits of the alternative being considered to the user of plastics?

The ban on plastic is to ensure a clean environment. However, we will still have filth to deal with, if Ghanaians are not made to accept and adopt this ban and make it one of their own.

The technical clause of 20 microns comes with much of ambiguity. How would the ordinary citizen be able to determine plastic products below or above 20 microns? If we are really going the Rwandan way, then the law must do away with the 20 micron clause, and prohibit all polyethylene and plastics that litter the environment in Ghana. In order not to cause the closure of these plastic manufacturing companies, government should also provide support incentives to these local companies to produce the alternative to plastics.

What is the long-term vision of government following the ban on plastics? Obviously, it’s to ensure a clean Ghana. The President has also helped the monitoring and evaluation process by providing Rwanda as a case study. At least, the case of Rwanda would provide a clear-cut baseline indicator for measuring Ghana’s progress to achieving a clean Ghana, devoid of plastics in future against that of Rwanda. In about just eight years of the ban on plastics, Rwanda received world recognition as one of the cleanest cities in the world, and the cleanest in Africa.

The clean beaches of Rwanda fetch them a lot of revenue. Ironically, the vast beaches in Ghana, Accra for that matter, have been underutilized over the years due to filth and pollution.

Yes, plastics form components that pollute our water bodies, including beaches. However, a chunk of the other materials that pollutes these beaches are not plastics. Human excreta, dirty clothes among others contribute to pollution of our environment and beaches.

My visit to the beach at James Town in the first quarter of 2014 was really an eyesore. Inhabitants of the area climb a concrete structure in the shallow end of the sea, defecate openly in broad day light, into the sea. Disgusting! Most readers may not be familiar with the beach in question, but it’s also an area that hosts a lot of deviants, if you like, criminals, who smoke marijuana in open space along the beach.

It is clear that government and waste management companies have done a little effort in motivating Ghanaians to properly dispose waste. Change in attitude is such a difficult task to accomplish in any human endeavor. To achieve a change in behavior, there must be compelling motivations and perceived benefits to effecting change in attitude, especially in our part of the world.

Across our towns and cities, one could walk several meters on our streets without spotting a waste bin. The usual chorus governments and waste management companies keep singing is the fact that these waste bins are usually stolen when they are placed on the streets. This excuse is an indirect way of telling citizens to litter the environment. It’s more motivating to litter the environment in the absence of waste collection bins, than it would be when the waste bins are available.

Several studies have suggested that Ghanaians generate a lot of waste. This means more waste collection avenues should also be created to meet the waste production.

We can never have a clean society called Ghana, if waste bins are not available on our streets and market/public places. Government and waste management companies should provide and place waste collection bins with considerable meters apart along our streets and public places across towns and cities.

How can we solve the alleged stealing of the waste bins? It’s simple: plant metal cages in concretes, lock the waste bins in them with an opening. Or employ people to police these waste collection bins day and night.

Government has a responsibility of keeping the people healthy and improving their health. Government’s deliberate effort at maintaining a clean environment would also go a long way to improving the health of the people. Basic Public Health principle tells us that, there must be strong relationship between Agent, Host and Environment for some diseases to be established. Pathogens that cause cholera, typhoid among others, thrive well in filthy environment. Creating a barrier between humans (host) and the agent is to distort the dirty/polluted environment of these pathogens by keeping it clean. Keeping a clean and pollution free environment would mean more people would be free from environmental related diseases. Invariably, it would also reduce government expenditure on curative health services in the long term.

To boast of a clean Accra and Ghana, just as that of Kigali and Rwanda, it would probably take us more than a decade. But it’s possible we can also get there with strong political will and responsible citizenship.

Author: Gbolu Samson,
Executive Director, PHAN-GHANA.
Email: [email protected]

A beach of Ghana today