The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth K.T. Sackey, has urged global leaders to adopt a plastic treaty aimed at ending the use of plastic items that are designed to be used once and discarded.

She said this in a video statement, as part of outreach efforts to bring awareness to cities' important role in the global plastics treaty shared on the C40 Cities and AMA social media handles to mark this year’s World Earth Day.

The first female Mayor of Accra emphasised the need for collective action to combat plastic pollution and support workers and communities in transitioning to sustainable alternatives.

Mayor Sackey emphasised the urgent need for action, stating, "Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects not only our local communities and workers but resonates globally."

She highlighted the detrimental effects of plastic waste on the environment, public health, and the livelihoods of communities and informal workers. 

"In   Accra, similar to numerous cities globally, we see first-hand the harmful consequences of plastic waste on our surroundings, our well-being, public health, and the livelihoods of our communities and informal workers... Plastic is inundating our city, and illegal dumping of plastic clogs our rivers, intensifying the problem of flooding during the rainy season, damaging our communities, and posing a serious health hazard, " she said.  

She disclosed that the city of Accra had taken proactive steps to address the issue of plastic pollution with the support of C40 Cities highlighting initiatives such as involving informal waste sector workers, establishing collectives, and creating safe working environments, as well as a social insurance programme to ensure the welfare of informal waste workers. 

She emphasized the significant impact on the health and well-being of communities and the crucial role of informal waste workers in managing this crisis.

"Informal waste workers, who are a crucial backbone of our economy, often bear the brunt of this crisis," Mayor Sackey said. "They tirelessly collect, sort, and recycle plastic waste, often in hazardous conditions, yet their efforts are often undervalued, " she said.  

Mayor Sackey stressed the importance of including the voices of local governments in the crafting of the Global Plastics Treaty, adding that as those responsible for waste management and closest to the people, local governments must ensure that communities and workers are actively taken into account and empowered in the transition away from plastics.

"We can't simply recycle our way out of this problem," Mayor Sackey declared. "We need a plastics treaty that stops single-use materials and supports workers and communities in the transition, " she said. 

She was hopeful that Accra's efforts in fostering a fair and equitable transition would stand as an example of what's possible when urban perspectives, equity, and inclusivity were integrated into the Treaty. 

Mayor Sackey called for the Global Plastics Treaty, which preserves the planet and uplifts people.

In February 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, to create a global, legally binding plastics treaty.