Market women empowered to drive proper waste management

Takoradi’s new market becomes the first market to receive Corpnation Foundation’s 4R+ Initiative after sustainable implementation in GSTS and Bethel Methodist School.

Launched under the theme “Empowering Women to Drive Proper Waste Management in Our Markets”, the initiative intends to equip market women with the right knowledge and opportunities in order that they will become practitioners and ambassadors of proper waste management.

At the launch, 20 labeled bins were handed over to the managers of the market to be placed at vantage spots within the market to collect plastic bottles and sachets, which form significant portion of their entire waste generated.

Receiving on behalf of the market authorities, Mrs. Hannah Dadzie expressed sincere appreciation to Corpnation Foundation (CNF) and partners revealing that, “the initiative will ultimately boost healthy trading since the market will be cleaner and more conducive attracting more sellers and buyers. It will also mitigate the impact of flooding in the market”, she added.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) director for Takoradi sub metro, Nana Yeboah registered the assembly’s endorsement for the project and readiness to enforce the relevant regulations to attain the project’s objectives. His comments came after the CEO of CNF recounted that 4.5tonnes of plastic waste have since been recovered in GSTS with this initiative and highlighted on its corresponding internally generated funds (IGF) by school.

Also present at the launch was the president for Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE), Mr. Richard Addison who promised to donate 10 bins as his support to the project.

As part of the launch activities, students from Takoradi Technical University (TTU), members of Corpnation Foundation’s youth clubs in different communities, joined the market women for an intense cleanup exercise in the new market. The exercise saw the desilting of choked gutters, thorough cleansing of the abattoir and sweeping of the market leading to the recovery 62kg of plastic bottles only on the day.

About the 4R+

The 4R+ Initiative is one championed by Corpnation Foundation to minimize impacts of improper waste disposal on human life and ultimately, help combat climate change – sdg13. The goal is to expose recipients and host communities to the numerous prevailing opportunities in plastic waste management whilst making them practitioners of proper waste management.

Recover, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse represent the 4Rs with tree planting, club formation and more climate action-oriented exercises represented with the plus (+).

Why the New Market

The launch was necessitated by a host of reasons including but not limited to the following: Market women complained of, market flooding at the slightest rainfall owing to gutters choked by plastic waste; overpriced charges for disposing off waste - these traders ironically pay to dispose off plastic waste which could be sold if segregated; etc.

The Takoradi new market despite the division hosts cents of women who sell assorted products to thousands who come from diverse parts of the region. Inspired by sdgs 3 & 6 which are foundational steps to attaining the rest, the 4R+ Initiative will reduce filth and make the market more hygienic for business.

“Here, the objective is to have our women drive the education and practice in and out of the market, a step in tandem with sdg5 (gender equality). Women have the higher tendency to impact children and their entire homes with any knowledge they acquire. Thus, 4R+ here will make them ambassadors who will send the education and practice home and beyond” Mr. Saviour Adzika, the foundation’s CEO explained.

“This will complement our efforts in the schools and communities to attain our second-to-none vision of having everyone segregate their waste every time and everywhere” the project lead, Barnabas Mensah added.

Partnership & Support

In line with SDG17, the NGO partnered Takoradi Technical University, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Education Service and institutions with shared objectives in rolling out this plastic waste solution in some Western regional schools.

During the new market launch, the western regional branch of the Ghana Traditional Caterers Association, Takoradi Market Queens Association, and queens from Sekondi and Apremdo markets joined as partners.

The role of the media has also been very visible in the success of the initiative by far. With their partnership, the details of the project have gone down well to the women and the public.

“As we seek to extend the initiative everywhere, we will need more strategic collaborations now. Therefore, we are imploring companies whose activities affect our environment, like-minded organizations and individuals who believe in the immeasurable importance of proper waste management on human lives, to join hands with us in driving this sustainable agenda.” Corpnation Foundation called.