Accra: As the world marks World Environment Day, the Ghana Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (GJESHA) has urged media practitioners and policymakers to step up efforts in the fight against plastic waste. In a statement released by the Association and copied to the Ghana News Agency to commemorate the day, GJESHA bemoaned the alarming scale of plastic pollution in Ghana, warning that the crisis is fast becoming a threat to public health, food security, tourism, and national development.
According to Ghana News Agency, GJESHA emphasised the pivotal role of the media in driving change, calling on journalists and media houses across the country to place greater focus on plastic pollution in their reporting. The group outlined several key areas where the media can make an impact, including investigating the plastic supply chain and industry responsibility, exposing the environmental and health consequences of plastic waste, promoting alternatives to single-use plastics, and highlighting community-driven recycling initiatives.
It also directed strong recommendations toward government and regulatory agencies. These include the strict enforcement of existing bans on plastic bags and non-biodegradable packaging, introducing incentives for circular economy solutions, and ensuring that polluting industries bear the cost of their waste under the 'polluter-pays' principle.
According to GJESHA, plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue, but a health and economic crisis. It said plastic waste contaminates food chains, worsens flooding, and releases toxic substances into the air and water.
GJESHA reaffirmed its commitment to high-impact environmental journalism and called on development partners, civil society, and state agencies to support media efforts through access to data, expert commentary, and public platforms for engagement. As the world reflects on the urgent need to protect the environment, GJESHA urged all Ghanaians to treat this year's World Environment Day as a turning point in the national effort to end plastic pollution.
It said together, through informed reporting, strong policy implementation, and community involvement, Ghana could reclaim its environment and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
