By Gloria Ikibah
The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament), has put up a five-point action plan to fight the menace of plastic waste in the Sub-region.
The the 3rd Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, made the proposal at the opening of the Delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Energy and Mines Infrastructure on Tuesday in Winneba, Ghana.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin noted that the theme of the joint committee, “Plastic Waste Management: Challenges and Prospects in the Implementation of Community Activities” was not only for academic discussion but a clarion call to action and a command to safeguard the very essence of West African identity.
The head of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, expressed displeasure that West Africa was under siege, and that the rhythm of life along coastal towns and communities such as Winneba has been set by the fall back that greatly threatened ancient harmony.
He said: “Our once-pristine beaches are now littered with the debris of our modern lives. Plastic waste chokes our waterways, suffocates our marine life and poisons the very waters that have nourished us for millennia.
“In Ghana alone, records showed that we have witnessed a staggering 59 per cent decline in small pelagic fish landings between 1993 and 2019.”
“The Parliamentarian decried that the economic toll of the menace was equally devastating as according to him, each ton of plastic waste causing marine pollution costs the region between $10,000 and $33,000.
“Our vital sectors – fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism and coastal real estate are bearing the brunt of this relentless assault on our environment.
“The question before us today is simple, yet monumental. How do we turn the tide on this plastic menace without leaving our people high and dry? Make no mistake, the path ahead is fraught with challenges. We must balance environmental preservation with economic realities. The plastic industry provides jobs for millions across our region. Any solution we propose must account for these livelihoods.
“But let us be clear, inaction is not an option. The cost of doing nothing far outweighs the challenges of change. We owe it to our fishermen, to our market women, to our children, and to the generations yet unborn to act, and to act now”, the 3rd Deputy Speaker added.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin therefore proposed a five-point action plan for immediate consideration by the Parliament through a harmonized legislation across Member States to help solve the challenges.
According to him, the first action plan, was for member states to phase out single-use plastics within the next three years.
Citing examples he noted that, “Rwanda has shown us the way. They taught us that it is possible. We must learn from their success and adapt it to our context. With about 80 per cent of our plastic waste currently mismanaged, we need rigorous and enforceable policies that span our entire region.
“Other plans include the need to invest heavily in innovative waste management solutions that can turn the challenge into opportunity; strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing practices by foreign trawlers; push for the establishment of an ECOWAS Coastal Protection Fund to support communities most affected by plastic pollution and declining fish stocks as well as engage in comprehensive public education campaign to change behaviours towards plastic use and waste management.
“Today, we are called to rise again. The plastic waste choking our waters is more than an environmental crisis; it is a test of our commitment to our people, to our heritage and to our future.
“It is a challenge to our fishermen whose nets now catch more plastic than fish, to our farmers whose lands and livestock are threatened by this plague and to our children who deserve to inherit clean beaches and bountiful seas”.