Africa-Press – Ghana. The Prevention of Marine Litter on the Gulf of Guinea (PROTEGO) Project has engaged fisherfolk in the Ada East District in a co-creation workshop aimed at tackling marine litter and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
The engagement, held at the Ada East District Assembly Conference Hall, was organised by the Ghana National Cleaner Production Centre of the Environmental Protection Authority (GNCPC-EPA), Plastic Punch, and Adelphi Research, under the PROTEGO Project.
PROTEGO is a three-year initiative being implemented in Ghana and Nigeria and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
In Ghana, implementation is led by GNCPC and Plastic Punch.
Mr Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo, Executive Director of Plastic Punch and Country Director of PROTEGO, said the workshop was a follow-up to a focus group discussion held in November 2024, during which fisherfolk identified key challenges relating to plastic waste along the coast.
He noted that while fisherfolk were affected by marine litter, they also contributed to the problem through improper disposal of plastic materials used in fishing activities.
“As part of the solutions, we are working towards establishing a recycling facility in Ada,” he said, explaining that feasibility studies had been conducted to determine suitable locations for the facility and collection points for plastic waste.
Mr Quarcoo said the project also intended to introduce an innovative potable water system known as “Nsopa” to improve access to safe drinking water within coastal communities, adding, however, that the management model could determine whether the water system would eventually be free for community members.
He described the workshop as a co-designed process to jointly develop practical and sustainable solutions with community members, noting that “The feedback and commitment from the fisherfolk have been commendable.”
Nene Ignatius Kisseh III, Chief Fisherman of Otrokpe, commended PROTEGO and Plastic Punch for the initiative.
He admitted that fisherfolk sometimes disposed of plastics into the sea after use and pledged their commitment to proper waste management to protect marine resources.
Madam Diana Tetteh Doku, a fishmonger, said the engagement had deepened her understanding of the importance of plastic waste management, noting that fishermen often caught more plastic waste than fish, and welcomed the assurance that collected plastic would be purchased for recycling.
“This will create job opportunities for us along the coast,” she said.
Mr Ben Setiameh, an opinion leader, also lauded the project, noting that large volumes of plastic waste washed ashore daily, describing the initiative as timely and necessary to safeguard the marine environment and livelihoods dependent on it.
The PROTEGO Project seeks to strengthen community-based approaches to marine litter prevention and promote circular economy solutions along the Gulf of Guinea.
