The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis, has on behalf of the Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, launched the ‘Go Circular Week’ at a well-attended ceremony held at Sports Zone, Lumley Beach in Freetown.

The initiative was conceived by the collective need of the Ministries of Finance, Tourism and Environment through Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP) and PROBLUE project to address the issue of plastic waste.

The aim was to raise awareness on the importance of reducing plastic pollution and the need to embrace circular practices that encourage the use of environmentally friendly products. Launching of a green label for hotels and a pitch night on plastics circularity at Limkokwing University are among the activities for the week.

Launching the ’Go Circular Week,’ Minister Nabeela Tunis commended the level of collaboration exhibited by the donors, saying it was a demonstration of their commitment towards addressing the issue affecting tourism as well as other Ministries.

She emphasized that Sierra Leone is a beautiful gem to behold but if the beaches, streets, rivers and towns are littered with plastics, they would lose their beauty. The Minister therefore called for commitment to Zero Waste by transforming what looks unsightly to something pleasant.

Madam Tunis maintained that the ‘Go Circular Week’ is about changing mindset and working towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

She thanked the World Bank PROBLUE trust fund of SLEDP and the Sierra Leone Resilient, Integrated Urban Mobility project for taking the challenge to address the crisis.

In conclusion, Madam Tunis emphasized the need to reduce plastic waste and say no to single use plastic; that plastic is not waste but has material value, and clean green Sierra Leone will attract tourists and benefit everyone.

The Minister invited line MDAs to take up the challenge and deliver on sanitary practices that seek to bolster existing practices. All in attendance recited a pledge to stop wasting plastic and start recycling.

Statements were made by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Mima Yema Sobba-Stephens, who talked on plastic pollution in Sierra Leone and interventions to address it; the World Bank Country Manager, Abdu Muwonge, who focused his statement on the Bank's interventions to support circularity; SLEDP Project Coordinator, Mary Jalloh, Premier Enviro Solutions Ltd, Walid Bahsoon, who made valuable contributions to the discourse.
Credit: MTCA Communications