National Service Personnel at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Ghana Yole Fellows, sensitized market women at the Makola Market in Accra, a suburb of Accra in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, to take action to beat plastic pollution.

The initiative aimed to address the pressing issue of plastic pollution and also motivate and mobilize the market folks to actively participate in the reduction of single-use plastic and adopt sustainable practices.

The Head of Environment and Climate Change, Stephen Kansuk highlighted the urgency of addressing plastic pollution. He urged all to  use less plastic, disposing  it of responsibly, and switching to eco-friendly options.

“The urgency to tackle plastic pollution cannot be overstated. Coming together to address its root causes is vital. Let's work towards a greener society and a better environment for future generations”, he said.  

The market women were motivated to reduce their plastic usage. They  promised to implement eco-friendly packaging practices. Some even promised the possibility of forming a sustainability committee to lead these initiatives within the market.

Maame Frida, a trader at the Makola market expressed joy with the campaign.

“We as individuals have the power to make a difference in our environment. We are grateful to have been enlightened on the dangers single-use plastic poses on our environment. From today, we are pledging to adopt sustainable practices to beat plastic pollution in our environment”, she stated 

The campaign mobilized about 100 individuals to take action to save the environment for people and the planet. The outreach forms part of UNDP’s programme activities in Ghana to  support efforts to stop plastic pollution and get communities involved in ensuring that the world is safe for all.