The Church of Pentecost, in collaboration with Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS), and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, organised a grand durbar to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day.
The event, held at the premises of the Pentecost Preparatory School (PPS), Madina, brought together pupils from various Pentecost Schools, including PPS-Madina, PPS-Ashaiman, PPS-Bubiashie, and PPS-Tema. Some ministers of the Church, representatives from PENTSOS and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, as well as dedicated staff and teachers from the Pentecost Schools, also graced the occasion.
The durbar commenced with a warm welcome address from Elder Richard Amaning, the Director of PENTSOS. Elder Amaning expressed gratitude to the Executive Council of the Church of Pentecost for making the event possible.
He highlighted the significance of World Environment Day, a global celebration led by the United Nations, with this year’s theme being “Beat Plastic Pollution,” which aimed to reduce plastic pollution worldwide and encourage plastic reuse and recycling.
Elder Amaning emphasised the crucial role of children, especially students, as both consumers and potential agents of change in the fight against plastic pollution in Ghana.
Following the welcome address, the National Coordinator for the Environmental Care Campaign and the Agormanya Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Kojo Gakpetor, delivering the keynote address, expressed joy at the Church’s involvement in celebrating World Environment Day for the first time, considering it a milestone in the Church’s “Possessing the Nations” agenda.
He acknowledged the positive efforts of the Church towards environmental care and emphasised the need for all churches to join forces in transforming Ghana.
Apostle Gakpetor highlighted the Chairman’s directive to focus on plastic waste recycling and clean-up exercises in the 2023 Environmental Care Campaign, stressing the importance of responsible waste disposal and recycling.
He called upon various stakeholders, including governments, waste management companies, and traditional rulers, to actively engage in tackling the plastic waste menace.
Mr. Jephthah Tetteh, the Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in his speech, provided insightful information on the global issue of plastic pollution, underscoring the alarming increase in plastic production and its adverse effects on the environment.
Mr. Tetteh highlighted the types of plastics and the opportunities and problems associated with their usage. He presented statistics on plastic waste generation in Africa and Ghana, stressing the need for concerted efforts to tackle the plastic waste challenge.
He outlined the various stakeholders involved in the plastic recycling value chain, from pickers to recyclers, and reiterated the importance of each role in addressing the issue.
Mr. Tetteh also called for collaboration among all institutions and stakeholders to achieve Ghana’s recycling targets and mitigate the plastic waste menace.
The World Environment Day durbar also served as a platform to launch the Plastic Waste Project in Pentecost Schools, aimed at educating students about the impact of plastic on the environment and promoting the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics.
The event also featured a variety of engaging activities, including poetry recitals, drama performances, dance routines, and an exhibition showcasing innovative products made from recycled plastic waste.
The celebration ended with an excursion to the Universal Plastic Products Recycling (UPPR) site, where the pupils were given firsthand knowledge about the recycling process of plastics.
PENTECOST NEWS.
