SACOST-UEW Partners Winneba Fishers to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution
The Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies (SACOST) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) commemorated the 2025 World Environment Day with a community outreach programme.
The programme, held at Winneba Main Landing Beach on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025, was organised in collaboration with Shape Attitude Ghana and other partners to address plastic pollution among fisherfolk.
The event brought together a diverse range of stakeholders including UEW lecturers, community leaders, representatives of partner organisations and fishers. This interactive gathering created a platform for knowledge sharing on the urgent environmental challenge of marine plastic pollution and its effects on ecosystems, livelihoods and human health.
Dr. Ethel Ansaah Addae, a Research Fellow at SACOST, emphasised the critical importance of the 2025 World Environment Day theme and reaffirmed SACOST’s commitment to bridging science and community-based action to tackle environmental challenges. She was joined by Mr. Wonderful Baisie Ghartey, CEO of Shape Attitude Ghana, who called for behavioural change, civic responsibility and enhanced community engagement in combating plastic waste along Ghana’s coastlines.
“The plastic crisis affects all of us but coastal communities feel it the most. Beating plastic pollution requires more than awareness—it requires action from every stakeholder, especially those directly connected to the ocean,” Mr. Ghartey stressed.
The educational session featured expert presentations covering a wide range of topics. Dr. Jemima Etornam Kassah, a lecturer at the UEW, examined the effects of marine plastic pollution on fisheries, noting the socioeconomic impact on fisherfolk and the potential decline in fish stocks due to plastic ingestion and habitat disruption.
Dr. (Mrs.) Felicity Bentsi-Enchill, also a UEW lecturer, discussed the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and biodiversity, highlighting the threats posed to aquatic species and the fragile balance of oceanic life.
Dr. Godfred Safo-Adu, a lecturer at UEW, delivered a presentation titled “Marine Pollution and Plastic Litter—Global and Local Scenarios: The Fate of Plastics in the Ocean.” The presentation traced the lifecycle of plastic waste, from consumption to its eventual impact on the marine environment. It emphasised that both industrial and domestic sources significantly contribute to marine debris, highlighting the need for solutions that are multi-layered and inclusive.
Participants were also briefed on the health risks associated with plastic pollution, particularly how microplastics enter the food chain and pose dangers to both marine life and humans who consume seafood.
The highlight of the event was an open forum facilitated by SACOST and Shape Attitude Ghana, during which fishers shared personal experiences and challenges in addressing plastic waste. The discussion centred on practical steps that fishers and communities can take to “beat plastic pollution,” emphasising the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The forum put forth several recommendations, including the enhancement of public education initiatives, the provision of waste disposal bins at landing sites, the rigorous enforcement of plastic waste regulations and the establishment of collaborations between government entities and the private sector to bolster recycling initiatives.
The outreach event reaffirmed UEW’s role as a socially responsive academic institution committed to advancing environmental sustainability through research, education, and community engagement.
