Chairman of Parliament’s Works and Housing Committee, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, is calling on the government to impose a nationwide ban on plastics due to their harmful environmental impact and significant contribution to flooding in Accra.
This call was made during a site inspection of the Odawna drainage system under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
The project, funded by a $200 million World Bank grant since 2020, aims to address perennial flooding challenges in Accra, particularly within the Odaw River basin.
According to Vincent Oppong Asamoah, plastic waste continues to clog major drains, undermining the project’s progress. He believes that a total ban on plastics would drastically improve the situation.
Supporting his position is a recent global Ipsos poll, which revealed that 85% of respondents support a global ban on single-use plastics, while 87% advocate for reduced plastic production.
The poll also showed that 90% back a ban on harmful chemicals used in plastics, with overwhelming support for promoting reusable and recyclable alternatives.
Asamoah’s stance aligns with international calls for stricter, legally binding measures to combat plastic pollution—efforts championed by organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Plastic Free Foundation.
Meanwhile, the Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, is advocating for the arrest and prosecution of individuals who deliberately dump refuse into drains, describing the act as criminal and a major contributor to the country’s flood problems.
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