The Gambia’s ongoing fight against plastic pollution has entered a critical phase. Since the government imposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in 2015, the National Environment Agency (NEA), in collaboration with the Gambia Police Force (GPF), has been working tirelessly to enforce environmental laws.
NEA recently held a press briefing at its main office along jimpex to highlight the substantial progress made, including the seizure of large quantities of banned plastics and the prosecution of offenders.
Dawda Badjie, the Executive Director of the NEA, emphasized the urgency of the situation. He described the use of plastic as being as addictive as a drug, and stressed the importance of protecting the environment as a means of protecting public health.
“Protecting the environment is essentially protecting yourself,” Badjie stated, urging everyone to take responsibility for the issues affecting their health and surroundings.
In the past week, the NEA has been focused on ensuring the enforcement of the plastic ban, particularly targeting those who import, sell, and use plastic. Badjie pointed out that controlling the importation of plastics remains a crucial aspect of the effort.
The NEA’s enforcement activities have been widespread. In the West Coast region, BCC and KMC the NEA identified one importer and 27 sellers, with 128 users of banned plastic.in west coast they identify one importer , 2 sellers and 28 users of plastic. In the Central River Region (CRR), there were no importers. The Upper River Region (URR) uncovered 27 users of plastics, while the North Bank Region (NBR) recorded 31 users but no sellers. In the Lower River Region (LRR), 20 people were caught using plastic. Regarding the quantity of seized plastic, in BCC and KMC the NEA reported a significant haul: 6,677.7 kg of plastic , 986 kg of plastic in the West Coast, while in LRR 53kg , NBR 35kg , CRR all together 114kg and URR 90kg of plastic bringing the total to 7,957.78kg of plastic confiscated nationwide.
Badjie made it clear that any seized plastic would result in legal action, emphasizing that enforcement is non-negotiable.
The NEA’s efforts are crucial in ensuring that the fight against plastic pollution remains strong and that the health of the Gambian population is prioritized. As the battle against plastic continues, the NEA remains committed to holding violators accountable and ensuring that the environment is safeguarded for future generations.
