A 25-year-old graduate from the University of Ghana, Awurama Kena-Asiedu is set to provide 24,840 jobs to Ghanaian youth through a company which recycles and reuses plastic waste to produce quality bags for children called RAMAPLAST.
The project, according to Ms Awurama Kena-Asiedu creates rural and urban economy stabilization through regional industrialization and job creation.
She stated that the production process involves the collection, segregation, thorough cleaning and sewing of plastic waste, each process requiring labour.
“The problem of unemployment will be tackled as small scale industries will be created and myriads of people trained in the various stages of the production process” she added
She emphasized that the project will reuse the plastic waste which would otherwise choke up sewage outlets, lead to flooding and epidemic. In extreme cases, lives are lost.
Over the years we have witnessed plastic waste swallow the entire country, leaving animals and man in a consistent battle with these pollutants for healthy space. RAMAPLAST is a step in the right direction towards curbing this menace.
An estimated 716,300 students being served with school bags made out of plastic waste throughout the 16 regions of the country in a by 2023 is the least of her goals.
In an interview with the media, Ms Awurama Kena-Asiedu revealed that employment for this industrialization boosting project will be heavily centered on the youth, the future leaders of this country.
According to the young graduate and social entrepreneur, the RAMAPLAST initiative is also geared towards the creation of Eco-friendly clubs in various schools and Regions as well as a thorough sensitize of communities on the need to ensure proper disposal of plastic waste.
She reiterated that, the project is in line with the sustainable development goals(SDG 6 and SDG 13), which is a call for clean water and sanitation and positive climate action respectively and urged all to make a conscious effort to be ambassadors of change in their own small way.