NASWAP support plastic waste management

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - The National Association of Sachet Water Producers (NASWAP) on Friday presented a cheque for 200 million cedis to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to support its plastic waste management efforts in the Metropolis.

The money formed part of the demand made by the AMA on NASWAP to provide it with 400 million cedis every month to get rid of plastic waste in the city.

The AMA decided to ban the sale and manufacture of all plastic products in the city but following consultations NASWAP had agreed to abide by the Assembly's demands.

Mr Agyepong Ntrah, Public Relations Officer of NASWAP, reiterated the need to enact a Legislative Instrument (LI) that would tax all plastic products at Ghana's entry points in order to raise more than 30 billion cedis to manage the waste.

Mr Ntrah suggested to the AMA to rejuvenate the activities of Sanitary Inspectors to go round various houses to enforce its byelaws. He said NASWAP had presented a number of proposals to the Ministries for consideration and questioned the delay in its implementation especially the enactment of the LI. He expressed regret that though records at the AMA indicated that more than 500 sachets water producers had been registered only a few had paid the contribution of two million cedis.

"We need the support of the AMA and various Ministries to assist us to collect the contributions from producers of sachet water in order to get more funds to manage the waste, he said.

"If all the 500 sachet water producers were able to pay the two million cedis, NASWAP would be able to raise one billion cedis for the AMA. We need the Assembly to assist us get the remaining 800 million cedis, which has been locked up with some producers," Mr Ntrah said. Receiving the cheque from Mrs Charlotte Anumel, President of NASWAP, Mr Stanley Adjiri Blankson, Chief Executive Officer AMA, said the filth in the City was a serious problem that needed more financial support.

Mr Blankson told members of NASWAP that their activities continued to create filth in the Metropolis and appealed to them to continue with the provision of funds to the Assembly to help in its waste management activities.

He said, "AMA and NASWAP have a common cause and that was to remove filth from the City".

Mr Abraham Gyimah Odoom, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, re-called the tussle that existed between AMA and NASWAP and expressed his delight that they had been able to come into terms.

Mr Odoom commended NASWAP for its efforts, saying: "This is the kind of support we expect from various association's in the country" and urged AMA to put the money into good use.