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Hold packaging companies responsible for waste pollution – Exe. Dir. Plastic Punch
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The company collected large volumes of plastic waste
Mr Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo, the Executive Director of Plastic Punch, a non-governmental organisation increasing awareness on sustainable waste management practices in Ghana, has called on the government and stakeholders to hold plastic packaging companies accountable for the waste they generate by investing in brand audits.
Mr Quarcoo made this call following the collection of 2,657kg of plastic waste from four beach clean-ups at Ningo Prampram and Nungua in the first quarter of 2022 by Plastic Punch and its partners.
He explained that if implemented effectively, brand auditing, which is the categorisation and counting of litter according to the type of packaging and associated brands, could be used to propel innovations in packaging, waste management, reusable solutions and influence an extended producer responsibility regime.
The beach clean-ups which were done in the Kpoete Community at Ningo-Prampram and the Regional Maritime University at Nungua in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI), was funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation under the facilitation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat.
The exercise, under the project, “Marine litter and microplastics: promoting the environmentally sound management of plastic wastes and achieving the prevention and minimisation of the generation of plastic wastes,” is aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness among decision-makers, academia, and the larger public about plastic waste found on beaches in Ghana.
Mr Quarcoo said that individual efforts were not sufficient to minimise plastic waste if companies were not being held accountable for their contributions to the increase of plastic waste at the beaches.
“Companies need to have alternatives to single-use plastics for the packaging of their products by investing in alternatives, research and development so there will be fewer plastic wastes, especially on our beaches,” he added.
Giving more details on the NGO’s activities at Nungua and Ningo-Prampram, Mr Quarcoo said, “beach clean-ups are a great tool to sensitise the public about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and marine life as well as to encourage behavioural change in reducing pollution.
He noted that Plastic Punch has been getting rid of marine debris on beaches through its clean-ups since 2018 after a team of passionate marine life advocates found five dead sea turtles on a plastic-infested beach at Ningo-Prampram.
“As an organisation, we hope through our beach clean-ups and awareness creation, people living in coastal areas and inland communities would understand the importance of keeping plastic-free and clean beaches for the sake of the environment, marine life as well as tourism,” he said.
Mr Quarcoo said the next steps for Plastic Punch would be to use the data collected from these clean-ups to collaborate with MESTI and other stakeholders to educate plastic manufacturers and users on the impact of plastic waste on the environment as well as hold them accountable for the waste they produce by advocating an Extended Producer Responsibility Regime.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.
In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.
The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.
According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.
UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.
The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.
It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.
UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.
The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.
The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.
Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.
By: Jacob Aggrey
