Tema-Ghana, July 11, GNA – A 17-year-old Alicia Asante, who is also Ocean Conservation Advocate with support from sister siblings and school colleagues from Tema SOS HGIC and other schools has recycled plastic bottles into toddler beds and donated them to Manhean Polyclinic in Tema.
The initiative was partnered by the United Nations Information Centre, Accra, to encourage the young girls who had taken it upon themselves to contribute to recycling and reducing plastic pollution in the country.
Ms. Asante said the initiative aimed at reducing plastic pollution and eliminating the menace of bed shortages in the various health facilities of the country.
She said during the presentation to the Polyclinic, a team known as Seacycle held a clean-up exercise at the Sakumono beach a few weeks ago, after which the idea of collecting plastics from the communities and recycling them came up.
She mentioned that plastic pollution affected habitats and natural processes and reduced the ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate change, which affected marine species and human lives as a whole.
She said that although protecting the ocean was not an easy task, it was essential that every individual, young and old, took it upon themselves to sustain the ocean to preserve the ecosystem, biodiversity and sustenance of life.
She said that with deliberate effort and commitment, more could be achieved in protecting the sector and environment, adding that the team would continue working in the various communities to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
Ms. Ashley Asante, the twin sister said the experience had been greatly satisfying to see the end results of their ideas making a positive impact in the lives of others and urged students all over the country to take up such projects to reduce plastic pollution.
Ms. Majorie Akosua Otu, Public Information Assistant, United Nations Information Centre Accra, commended the team for the initiative, stressing that they were glad to have partnered the students in making the beds.
She added that by re-purposing plastic bottles into the beds, the team was taking steps to reduce and reuse plastic waste, adding that every effort, no matter how small, could make a significant difference in achieving an environmentally conscious world.
“We hope the donation today will inspire others to take action and do their part, no matter how small, towards beating plastic pollution because every effort is needed,” she stated.
