ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - GHANA NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ACCRA, DECEMBER 2007 National Implementation Plan – Ghana __________________________________________________________________________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful preparation of Ghana’s National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is another success story of a multi-stakeholder collaboration for the sound management of chemicals in Ghana. The hardwork, cooperation and support by all national stakeholder institutions and individuals deserve recognition and appreciation. We are highly grateful to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for providing financial support for the NIP Development and UNIDO which served as Implementing Agency and for also providing technical support. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is highly appreciated for conducting training in Action Plan development and also for reviewing the NIP document. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the team of national experts, who were involved at different stages in the course of developing the NIP, for their invaluable time and input. We are particularly indebted to the following individuals and their respective institutions that constituted the National Coordinating Team/Project Steering Committee: Mr. Edward Osei Nsenkyire (formerly of Ministry of Environment and Science, Chairman); Mr. Jonathan A. Allotey (Environmental Protection Agency, National Project Director); Mr. John A. Pwamang (Environmental Protection Agency); Mr. Sam Adu-Kumi (Environmental Protection Agency, National Project Coordinator); Dr. Rexford Osei (formerly of Ministry of Environment and Science); Dr. (Mrs.) Edith Clarke (Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service); Mr. Vesper Suglo (Ministry of Food and Agriculture/Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate); Mrs. Margaret Ahiadeke (Environmental Protection Agency); Mrs. Dinah Brandful (Customs, Excise and Preventive Service); Mr. Issah Nikabs (Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President’s Special Initiative); Mr. John Wartemberg (Electricity Company of Ghana); Mr. Fred Ohene-Mensah (Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment/Department of Factories Inspectorate); Prof. P. O. Yeboah (Ghana Atomic Energy Commission); Prof. Derick Carboo (Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana); Prof. A. Ayensu (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research); Mr. Emmanuel A. Mensah (General Transport and Petroleum Workers Union of Trades Union Congress of Ghana); Mr. Prince Agyeman-Yeboah (Association of Ghana Industries/Chemico Ghana Limited); Mr. John Awuku Dziwornu (Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen). We are equally grateful to the following personalities who served on the various Expert Task Teams: Supt. Daniel J. Avorga (Ghana Police service); Mr. D. Owusu-Nyampong (Ghana Standards Board); Ms. Mercy Emma Kwaah (Attorney Generals Department); Dr. Beatrice Padi (Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana); Mr. Peter Biney (Ministry of Food and Agriculture/Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate); Prof. J. H. Ephraim (Ghana Chemical Society); Dr. S. Osafo Acquaah (Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology); Mr. J. Martey (Food and Drugs Board); Mrs. Elizabeth Adetola (Ghana Standards Board); Dr. E. K. Takyi (Noguchi Memorial Institute); Mr. L. D. Atsiatorme (formerly of Environmental Protection Agency), Mr. R. Yeboah-Asuamah (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation); Mrs. Sakeena Bonsu (Evergreen Club); Mr. E.A. Gyamera (Ghana Education Service), Mr. J. E. Jainie (Chieftaincy Secretariat). The following persons who constituted the Secretariat also deserve mentioning: Mr. Joseph C. Edmund; Mrs. Shirley Otinkorang; Mrs. Esther Anku; Mr. Michael Onwona-Kwakye; Mr. Charles Koomson; and Mr. Michael Pappoe. Finally Mr. Redeemer Kowu, Mr. Daniel Amlalo, Mr. Samuel Anku, Dr. Johnson Boanuh, Mr. Albert Boateng all of the Environmental Protection Agency who reviewed the final draft document and provided very useful inputs are highly appreciated. JONATHAN A. ALLOTEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCRA, DECEMBER 2007 ______________________________________________________________________________________ National Implementation Plan - Ghana 2 National Implementation Plan – Ghana __________________________________________________________________________________________ FOREWORD Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are among emerging global chemicals management concerns which demand urgent concerted action by governments, industry, civil society and the international community to reduce impacts on human health and the environment. This project was coordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency in the framework of the “Enabling Activities to Facilitate Early Action on the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Ghana (UNIDO Contract Number: 2002/116; Project GF/GHA/02/003)”. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded the preparation of the NIP with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) acting as the GEF Implementing Agency. Mr. Jonathan A. Allotey, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency served as the National Project Coordinator, whilst Mr. Sam Adu-Kumi, Principal Programme Officer also of the Environmental Protection Agency served as the National Project Coordinator. The Chemicals Control and Management Centre (CCMC) of EPA under the directorship of Mr. John A. Pwamang served as the Project Secretariat. Ghana’s National Implementation Plan (NIP) elaborates the current POPs situation and details the commitments and actions that it intends to undertake in the management and control of POPs. The focus of the NIP is in line with the National Environmental Action Plan, and the Ghana Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) towards the achievement of middle income status by 2015 among others. The implementation of the NIP is also an important step towards meeting the commitments of the World Summit on Sustainable Development whose goal is to ensure that, by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize their significant adverse effects on human health and the environment. The necessity in promoting synergies among related Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) such as the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, among others is highlighted in the NIP. Recognizing that the environment is the common heritage for present and future generations, the Government of Ghana will endeavour to support the implementation of the measures, actions and activities outlined in the NIP to reduce and ultimately eliminate POPs and other toxic substances from Ghana. All the nine pesticides covered by the Stockholm Convention have long been prohibited from use in Ghana. The challenges for the country therefore pertain mainly to PCBs, unintentionally produced POPs (dioxins and furans) from uncontrolled combustion processes and the management of sites contaminated by POPs and other toxic substances. The Action Plans of the NIP outlines priority areas that require attention for Ghana to realize the objective of the Stockholm Convention of protecting human health and the environment from the harmful impacts of POPs. The areas include the following: Information, education and communication strategy to create awareness on POPs; Improvement in policy and legal framework; Institutional strengthening and capacity building; and Development of appropriate and environmentally sound technologies, cleaner production and promotion of Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP); Development of infrastructure and technical capabilities for analyzing POPs in various environmental media. ______________________________________________________________________________________ National Implementation Plan - Ghana 3 National Implementation Plan – Ghana __________________________________________________________________________________________ It is envisaged that the National Implementation Plan will be updated as and when necessary to reflect future decisions made by the Government of Ghana and by the Conference of the Parties such as amendments to the Convention or its annexes, including the addition of chemicals to Annexes A, B or C. I wish to thank all national stakeholders and our global development partners whose immense contributions made the preparation of this NIP possible. This Plan is certainly one of the most important elements towards Ghana’s full compliance with the Stockholm Convention on POPs, and it significantly represents Ghana’s contribution to the protection of the global environment. HONOURABLE KWADWO ADJEI-DARKO, MP MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT DECEMBER, 2007 ______________________________________________________________________________________ National Implementation Plan - Ghana 4 National Implementation Plan – Ghana __________________________________________________________________________________________ ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AG Attorney General AGI Association of Ghana Industries AMCEN African Ministerial Conference on Environment ATL Akosombo Textiles Limited AU African Union BAT Best Available Technique