Newmont Ahafo North, Afrisipakrom mark Environment Day with major clean-up exercise
Newmont Ahafo North joined the residents of Afrisipakrom in the Tano North municipality of the Ahafo Region to celebrate this year’s Environmental Day with a clean-up exercise.
Workers of Newmont Ahafo North, pupils from the local schools and residents joined the exercise by picking plastic and other waste materials from the community.
The General Manager of Newmont Ahafo North, Charles Bissue, addressing a durbar as part of the celebration, called for a change of attitude towards the environment, especially how plastic wastes are managed.
” It is a reminder that the health of our communities and planet is directly tied to how we treat our environment and manage our waste, especially plastic. The numbers are worrying, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and if we do not act quickly, this figure could triple by 2060.”
Mr Bissue disclosed what Newmont Ahafo North is doing on its part to protect the environment.
“We have launched practical programmes such as our Chicken Parade, where every employee joins hands monthly to clean up waste across our site.”
He also added, ” We also run a waste segregation programme to make recycling effective and consistent.”
He appealed, ” I want to encourage all of us, communities, Assemblies and institutions, to work together. Let us own our space, maintain clean surroundings, and rethink how we use plastic.”
The Municipal Chief Executive for Tano North Municipality, Pius Sampson Opoku, speaking at the programme, said, “Plastic waste also damages the image of our beautiful communities, affecting tourism and investment opportunities.”
He appealed, “Let us remember that every piece of plastic waste that ends up in our environment is a threat to our health and our future. Let us, therefore, embrace alternatives like reusable bags, eco-friendly packaging, and recycling initiatives. Let us support local entrepreneurs and innovators who are finding new solutions to plastic waste.”
The Chief Afrisipakrom, Nana Oboni Nkrawiri IV, on his part, urged the inhabitants of the community to join the fight against plastic pollution by disposing of it properly so that they will not pollute the environment.
Various organisations in the community were given waste bins.
