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The clean-up exercise organized by my sister, Rauda Ahmed Salihs a week ago was a success. Cheers to every Tom, Dick and Harry who gave a helping hand to save the sea. In fact it was all- hands- on deck. I understand the ocean is mammoth to be saved by just a day’s clean-up exercise; a place that makes up just a minute portion of the entire water bodies in Ghana. If all and sundry notably, residents of the fishing communities take the mantle to safeguard and protect the sea from pollution like we revere our personal belongings, the sea would absolutely be saved.
Yes. “If each of us would only sweep our own doorstep, the whole world would be clean.” As captured succinctly by Mother Theresa.
Indisputably, the plastic is a product that would not break the bank. Thus, inexpensive. The plastic product is not bio-degradable and it is an ideal spot for storage and packaging. Notwithstanding, we have lost control over the usage of plastics as a result of our short term benefit at the expense of our long term repercussions. Plastics are detrimental, perilous and gradually destroying the ocean and its aesthetics.
A case in point is the beach at James Town which undoubtedly is in a deplorable state. So obnoxious that; one would not want to spend a second in that environment. Ironically, it is a place called home for those who reside in that hood. It is heartbreaking to see how polluted the sea is with all kinds of plastic waste and materials. The sand on the shores of the beach is polluted with ‘take- away’ boxes that have been tattered by fishes.
We’re losing our beaches and aquatic life to plastic pollution. And the sad reality is that people who leave around the beaches have not taken that into cognizance. We can win this fight by refusing to take extra plastic bags from the ‘Waakye’, rice or ‘kooko’ seller.
By refusing to take boxes that can’t be reused. However, there should be strict enforcement of laws to regulate plastic import and its usage. This can go a long way to save our beaches.
The Writer is a student of the University of Cape Coast and a Reader at Success Book Club
