Amidst growing concerns about environmental degradation, the Environmental Scientists Association of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (ENSSA KNUST) took a proactive stance by launching a transformative initiative on March 20, 2024. The association embarked on a mission to educate and empower the youth while fostering a sense of environmental responsibility within the community.
The focal point of their endeavor was the Kotei-Deduako M/A Primary and Junior High School, located within the Oforikrom Municipality in the Ashanti Region. Here, ENSSA KNUST members engaged in a multifaceted outreach program aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution in Ghana, particularly in Kumasi, and its far-reaching implications for the environment and human health.
President of ENSSA at KNUST, Master Asamoah Daniel Kwame Oware, shared insights into the organization’s recent efforts, emphasizing the importance of sensitizing students and providing eco-friendly tools like brooms and dustbins. These tools, he explained, were essential for promoting sustainable waste management practices and instilling a creative approach to environmental science education.
Oware underscored ENSSA’s dedication to expanding their outreach endeavors and called for support from NGOs to bolster environmentally friendly initiatives. Similarly, the Welfare Chairperson of ENSSA KNUST, Miss Josephine Pilly Apraku, highlighted the association’s broader goal of promoting environmental science programs across tertiary institutions nationwide.
She stressed the symbiotic relationship between environmental preservation and human well-being, advocating for a clean environment as a cornerstone of public health. Apraku revealed plans for future monitoring and evaluation activities, aiming to extend sensitization efforts beyond the confines of the Ashanti Region.
Feedback from students at Kotei-Deduako School mirrored the success of ENSSA KNUST’s initiative, with expressions of empowerment and gratitude permeating their sentiments. Inspired by the program, students voiced their commitment to taking actionable steps towards environmental conservation within their community.
In the wake of ENSSA KNUST’s Environmental Sensitization and Donation Drive, the seeds of environmental stewardship have been firmly planted, heralding a promising future of sustainability and resilience for generations to come.