Drinking hot Kooko from a plastic bag is equivalent to smoking 36 sticks of cigarettes, according to Dr. Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Dr. Nyantakyi explained that the strong chemical bonds in plastic can release harmful petrochemicals into food when exposed to high temperatures.
“Literature has it that, if you drink Kooko, contain in a plastic bag is equivalent to taking 36 sticks of cigarette. The reason is that we have these strong bonds putting the polymers together, so when you expose it to excessive temperatures, the petrochemicals begin to release harmful substances into the food,” he stated.
Plastic waste has become a significant challenge in Ghana, affecting nearly every community.
The country generates over one million tons of plastic waste annually, with only 2 to 5 percent being recycled.
A large portion of this waste, primarily single-use plastics like bags, bottles, and sachets, is poorly managed and often ends up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean, posing serious risks to ecosystems, marine life, and human health.
To address this issue, the EPA has intensified public awareness campaigns both online and offline.
Speaking on the Orange Sunrise with Alfa Ali, responding to a documentary produced by Orange News’ Fatawu Bayaga, Dr. Nyantakyi noted that plastic bags are prevalent today, driven by the increasing population and daily plastic consumption.
In market areas, the situation is even more alarming, as shoppers often return home with multiple plastic bags, sometimes as many as ten.
“Our life will be miserable without plastics, we need them, they’re indispensable, we just have to manage their usage properly,” he noted.
The Principal Corporate Affairs Officer of the Authority, Felicia Gyamfi Karikari, stated that the EPA recently organized a stakeholder discussion with industry players to effectively address the issue of plastic waste.
She noted that participants were informed about the potential of plastic waste, stating that it can be recycled into various products, including waste bins, to promote proper disposal of materials.
The Corporate Affairs Officer also stated the need for a change in public behavior to significantly mitigate this challenge.
Historically, leaves and paper have been used in Ghana as alternatives to plastic for food packaging.
A report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicates that a majority (62%) of surveyed individuals preferred using leaves (like those used for waakye, a popular Ghanaian dish) for food packaging, followed by reusable containers (21%) and paper (13%).
