The World Bank yesterday organised a ProBlue stakeholder’s workshop on how to reduce Marine Litter and pollution in the Greater Accra Region (GAR).
The Ghana ProBlue is a technical Assistance project being executed jointly by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) and aims to enhance knowledge base, strengthen evidence-based policy decisions, promote social inclusion and involve the private sector in improved waste management, reduction of marine litter and plastic pollution by promoting sustainable plastic management, with a focus on the GAR.
The project is funded by the ProBlue umbrella multi-donor trust fund, administered by the World Bank, that supports the sustainable and integrated development of marine and coastal resources in healthy oceans.
Addressing the gathering in an opening remarks, the Special Advisor to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Oliver Boachi said this was the most significant and most ambitious attempt that the world is making to combat the devastating menace of plastic pollution.
Because of the great work, Ghana has been positioned to play a very prominent role in these negotiations.
“The whole world has recognized the work we are doing, and as a result, resources are being made available to us to continue working. Again, the work we are doing together was roundly recognized and showcased as a model that other countries should emulate.
“There too, I was very proud to represent our dear country, inspired by the wonderful work that we are doing with the support of the Bank,” he said.
Mr. Oliver Boachi outlined that there are many initiatives that are currently underway to deal with the many dimensions of plastic pollution and marine litter in the country.
These initiatives, according to him, have been designed to complement each other, and to ensure that there are no duplications adding that all these initiatives are designed to ensure that we are managing plastics over the full life cycle.
He noted, “The World Bank provides us financial assistance, and the Bank also provides Technical Assistance to us. The team that has come on this mission include technical aspects on much needed policy reforms, waste management systems and education, awareness creation and community engagement.”
Through the ProBlue initiative, Mr. Boachi mentioned that the World Bank Group is providing inspiration, particularly for me and the team at MESTI.
“In the difficult times that our country is in, knowing that the Bank is holding our back with all this assistance inspires us with hope. It is the culmination of the activities we are undertaking here and relevance to the global effort to create a better world”, he concluded.
In a presentation on ProBlue Project, the senior Environment Specialist, Mr. Oznur Oguz Kumtasal said the expected impact of the project is to enable conditions for commercially viable circular business models in the plastic value chain.
