The quiz was held for schools by the NCCE | File Photo

The Tema Metro Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised an inter-school’ quiz competition to mark the 2025 World Environment Day.

World Environment Day is a United Nations flagship initiative celebrated annually on June 05 to raise awareness and promote action for environmental protection.

This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Ending Plastic Pollution”.

The quiz competition was aimed at raising awareness on the dangers of plastic pollution, promoting sustainable waste management behaviours and instilling in the young ones the application of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Wisdom Aditsey, the Tema Metropolitan Environmental Health Officer, addressing selected students ahead of the quiz, acknowledged the significance of World Environment Day and the need to observe it.

Aditsey highlighted how the environment positively and negatively impacts humans’ lives, stating that “Many activities like littering, open dumping, industrial activities, and inefficient recycling systems lead to negative impacts on our lives.”

He emphasised that living in a sustainable environment was by conserving energy, reducing pollution and protecting biodiversity.

Madam Gifty Agyeiwaa Badu, the Tema Metro Director of the NCCE, said as part of its mandate to educate citizens on national issues and civic responsibilities, the NCCE has joined the global campaign to empower children and youth across Ghana as civic champions of environmental stewardship.

Madam Badu added that her outfit decided to commemorate the day with a mini quiz on the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – adding that the 3Rs align with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6) and Articles 41 (g) and (k) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, among others, which focuses on ensuring access to safe water and sanitation for all to contribute to the well-being of the community and protect and safeguard the environment.

She said this year’s theme was a call for governments, institutions, and citizens to take bold collective action to combat plastic pollution through the principles of the 3Rs.

She encouraged teachers to collectively help champion the sustainable environment vision aimed at building a cleaner, greener, and more responsible Ghana.

Gifty Adwoa Mensah, the headmistress of Manhean TMA JHS, stressed that plastic pollution was harmful and negatively impacted human health, clogging gutters and causing floods.

After fierce competition between five contesting basic schools in Tema Newtown, Manhean TMA JHS emerged as winners of the environmental quiz.