The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has developed a Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan to foster strong alignment between academia and civil society.
According to Minister for MESTI, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the roadmap enables the government to identify the priority sectors of the economy where a circular economy would maximize national output, ensure sustainability and encourage stakeholder involvement.
Dr. Afriyie noted that the roadmap would focus on the vision, goals and actions required for Ghana to achieve a just transition into the circular economy.
This, the Minister, who also doubles as Medical Doctor, disclosed at a seminar organized by the European Union (EU) on Thursday, March 02, 2023, in Accra.
Dr. Afriyie expressed hope that the roadmap would spark inspiration for innovation, collaboration and lead to the achievement of long-term and sustainable success.
In addition to the Roadmap and Action Plan, the Minister noted that the government was also undertaking a project to establish a Circular Economy Framework for Plastics in Ghana.
“This project is being implemented with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with UNIDO as the Implementing Agency and MESTI as the Executing Agency. The project started late last year (2022) and spans 5 years. In addition to several key components such as; policy reforms, standards, regulations and their enforcement, there are components for Education & Awareness Creation, Waste Management, Technology Transfer and Informal Sector Integration.”
Dr. Afriyie
Consequently, Dr. Afriyie highlighted the key role Ghana was playing in the global effort to negotiate an international legally binding instrument on plastics pollution in the marine environment.
“It is very important to note that the UNEA Resolution that established the committee to negotiate the treaty has established circular economy as the foundation, on which the full life-cycle management of plastics must be based.
“In Ghana, we have demonstrated our commitment to a circular economy through our participation as one of the countries that has led this process from the beginning to this stage, where our country has been appointed as chair and spokesperson for the Africa Group of Negotiators.”
Dr. Afriyie
Prior to the Seminar held on Thursday by the EU, on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, MESTI awarded the winner of its Maiden 2023 Climate Change and Green Economy Teacher Award, during the launch of 2023’s climate change and green economy week in Accra.
The Climate Change and Green Economy Teacher Award To Motivate Teachers
The Maiden 2023 Climate Change and Green Economy Teacher Award was initiated by the MESTI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to motivate teachers to be climate change advocates in their schools.
The winner of the maiden 2023 Climate Change and Green Economy Teacher Award will join the Ghana delegation to the International Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) in November 2023.
The Minister for MESTI, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie noted that the award scheme, which is one of the activities for 2023’s climate change and green economy week celebration, was developed through the MESTI/EPA integration of Climate Change and Green Economy into the school curricula programme.
Moreover, Dr. Afriyie said the 2023 Climate Change and Green Economy Week Celebration will bring together a wide range of public and private sector actors across Ghana and the rest of the World.
“The Ministry stands ready, to seek the support of the general public to build up and maintain the momentum of climate education and public awareness on climate change after the launch.”
Dr. Afriyie
Dr. Afriyie further announced that other activities earmarked for the week-long celebration include public education, youth dialogue, conference and awards, and dinner night and has been scheduled to take place from 27th to the 31st of March 2023.
“During the period, the MESTI and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with their partners, would sensitize the public and create awareness on climate change.”
Dr. Afriyie
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