Telecommunications giant MTN, in partnership with Jekora Ventures Limited, has launched a campaign on plastic waste recycling to conserve Ghana’s natural resources as part of its Global Appreciation Work.
In partnership with Jekora Ventures Limited, a leading waste management company, the campaign seeks to also reinforce MTN’s commitment to its eco-responsibility as a key strategic pillar on its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Key Performance Indicator (KPI) index.
The initiative will recycle waste by source separation into three streams; plastics, cardboard and organic waste. This began in February, 2017 at its head office, the MTN House.
In an interview, Senior Manager for Sustainability and Social Impact for MTN Ghana Foundation, Robert Kuzoe, noted that the current campaign is part of MTN’s global appreciation week and an extension of its existing recycling initiative.
“With respect to this campaign, our launch today seeks to extend education and the benefits of recycling to our communities. Our community recycling bins will be placed at selected MTN service centres across the country. By reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and saving energy at home, at work and on the road, we save the environment and our continent.”
Giving a breakdown of the phases, Mr. Kuzoe explained that as a first phase, labelled bins will be positioned at the MTN head office and its Osu offices in Accra to collect the plastics. Other locations within the regions, such as Nhyiaeso, Kejetia, Takoradi Main, Market Circle, Koforidua and the Wa Service Centres, will follow suit.
“We are confident that this initiative will help deepen gains made already by our activities over the years, and move us closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 11), which speaks to sustainable cities and communities requiring us to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”
Also present was Ghanaian highlife musician and climate change activist, who is also the ambassador for the campaign, Kwame Nsia Apau – popularly known as Okyeame Kwame.
Okyeame Kwame commended MTN and Jekora Ventures for the initiative, stating that the campaign will go a long way to contribute to minimising the effects of climate and environmental change. He added that the initiative has a domino effect for economic significance through job creation and a reduction in sanitation-related diseases.
While pledging his commitment, Okyeame Kwame also urged Ghanaians to be responsible for their waste disposal and to be good corporate citizens to help manage and mitigate the growing nuisance of plastic pollution.
The seasoned musician also entreated all and sundry, especially the youth, to embrace the initiative since it will create job opportunities for them.
On his part, Felix Laryea, Administration Manager of Jekora Ventures Limited, applauded MTN Ghana for the collaboration while emphasising that it will go a long way toward reducing plastic waste in the country.
He said since 2017, the company has been collecting waste from MTN Ghana’s head office. “We collected 15 metric tonnes of plastic waste from the head office, while we collected less paper waste.”
According to him, 60 percent of Ghana’s waste is organic, 17 percent is plastic, and the rest is paper and liquid. He said his outfit is committed to supporting the course to abate plastic waste pollution in the country and to ensure zero plastic waste in sight.
