As the global community marked World Environment Day 2025 under the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution,” the Tema Metro Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) took a bold step by putting the spotlight on the next generation of environmental leaders — schoolchildren.
In a spirited inter-schools quiz competition, organized to commemorate the day, students from five basic schools in Tema Newtown competed on issues surrounding plastic pollution, waste management, and sustainable environmental practices. The initiative aimed not only to inform but to inspire lasting behavioural change rooted in the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3Rs).
Manhean TMA JHS emerged as the winners of the keenly contested quiz, showcasing exceptional understanding of the environmental challenges facing Ghana and the world.
Addressing the students, Mr Wisdom Aditsey, Tema Metropolitan Environmental Health Officer, emphasized how irresponsible human activities — such as open dumping and poor recycling habits — were endangering both health and biodiversity. He urged the youth to embrace sustainability as a lifestyle.
“We must all strive to live in a clean and sustainable environment. That means conserving energy, protecting biodiversity, and actively reducing pollution,” he said.
Madam Gifty Agyeiwaa Badu, Tema Metro Director of the NCCE, said the commission’s mission goes beyond civic knowledge — it includes nurturing future change-makers who can safeguard Ghana’s environment.
“This quiz is more than a competition; it’s a platform to empower our young citizens as civic champions of environmental stewardship,” she said.
She linked the programme to SDG 6 and Articles 41(g) and (k) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which call on citizens to protect and improve the environment and contribute to community well-being.
Madam Gifty Adwoa Mensah, headmistress of Manhean TMA JHS, echoed the dangers of plastic waste, saying it chokes gutters, causes flooding, and threatens public health. She called on teachers to integrate environmental consciousness into daily classroom discussions.
As Ghana grapples with rising plastic waste levels, the NCCE’s youth-focused environmental education model is setting the stage for lasting impact — one informed student at a time.
