Dr Alfred Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, on Wednesday tasked developing countries to promulgate laws on the disposal of plastics and electronic waste.

He said this was due to the hazards that they posed to the environment and human health, when not properly disposed.

Dr Ahenkorah was speaking at the 64th Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra being organised by the Institute of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana, in collaboration with scores of institutions including Zoom Alliance, Ghana News Agency, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Ghanaian Times and Graphic Communication Group.

Speaking on the topic, “Environmental Pollution: Dealing with Plastics and Electronic Waste,” Dr Ahenkorah said whilst developed countries had stringent laws that governed the disposal and recycling of plastics and electronic waste, countries in the developing world lacked those laws.

He said apart from the fact that effective recycling of plastics and electronic waste would clear the atmosphere of substances that were harmful to human health, it also served as a means of job and income generation.

He said the country’s metropolitan assemblies had the authority to develop bye-laws on plastic and electronic waste disposal, adding that this was very crucial to improving general sanitation and the environment.

Dr Elsie Kaufmann, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, who chaired the programme said: “We need to find solutions to our problems from our own perspective.”

She said whilst seeking foreign assistance was not a bad option, it was important for people to strive to resolve their problems from within.

The week’s conference is under the theme: “The Key To The Future Health of Our Nation: Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.”

Source: GNA