The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Honurable Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called for greater attention to the environmental impact of plastic and Styrofoam food packaging, warning that their improper disposal continues to contribute to pollution in gutters and the sea.
Speaking to Nana Aba Anamoah on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Hon. Gomashie stressed the need for individuals and businesses to consider the environmental consequences of their packaging choices, rather than focusing solely on convenience and appearance.
She argued that although plastic and Styrofoam containers may offer convenient ways of packaging food, the problem arises when they are discarded without proper consideration of their final destination.
According to her, much of the waste eventually finds its way into drainage systems and water bodies, worsening environmental pollution and creating challenges for communities.
“The packaging ends up in our gutters; they end up in the sea. The sea doesn’t want our filth; it throws it back to us,” she said.
Hon. Gomashie recounted an experience during her previous tenure as Deputy Minister, when she deliberately used biodegradable packaging for food she had purchased and eaten at the office to draw attention to the need for environmentally friendly alternatives.
She said the action attracted criticism, with some people questioning why she was eating in her office, while the focus of her message about biodegradable packaging was overlooked.
She explained that her intention was to demonstrate that people must look beyond the immediate convenience of food packaging and consider the environmental consequences of its disposal.
Hon. Gomashie maintained that consumers and businesses have a responsibility to be conscious of where their waste ends up, particularly as improperly disposed packaging materials continue to affect the environment.
She highlight the need for a shift towards sustainable packaging practices and greater public awareness of responsible waste disposal.
She urged people to recognise that the responsibility for protecting the environment does not end after consuming a product but also includes ensuring that its packaging does not become a source of pollution.
Story By Pamela Quayson
