The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, hosted a delegation from SHEQ-PA Ghana in a symbolic and practical gesture to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day.

The donation of plastic bottle receptacles to the university formed part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability and support the global #BeatPlasticPollution campaign.

The initiative, led by SHEQ-PA Ghana—a professional association committed to safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) advocacy—highlighted the shared responsibility between academia and industry in addressing environmental challenges. At the heart of the donation was the association’s belief in using simple yet impactful tools to foster long-term change in attitudes toward waste management and sustainability.

Present at the brief ceremony were Assoc. Prof. Saviour Mantey, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies; Dr. Eric Stemn, Head of the Environmental and Safety Engineering Department; and Mrs. Sefam Abra Afewu, Assistant Registrar at the Works and Physical Development Office. Their attendance underscored UMaT’s commitment to advancing environmental stewardship through strategic partnerships.

Speaking on behalf of the association, SHEQ-PA Ghana President Mrs. Akua Agyeiwaah Berantuo Armooh expressed appreciation to the university for embracing the initiative. “We are grateful to the UMaT community for receiving this project with such enthusiasm,” she said. “This is part of our wider mission to advance SHEQ values nationwide. Real change begins with visible, practical action.”

Mrs. Armooh noted that the donation was more than a symbolic gesture. “These green receptacles may appear simple, but they represent a much larger call to action—a movement toward responsible environmental behaviour. We believe that sustainability is cultivated one habit at a time.”

She added that through consistent collaboration and awareness, institutions like UMaT could become models for green leadership in Ghana and beyond.

World Environment Day 2025 was celebrated globally under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” calling for decisive action against the mounting threat of plastic waste. For SHEQ-PA Ghana, the occasion was an opportunity to lead by example—shifting the conversation from policy to practice, and from intention to intervention.

The donated bins are expected to improve plastic waste segregation on the UMaT campus and instil a stronger sense of environmental consciousness among students and staff. More importantly, the initiative sets the tone for future collaborations between the academic community and professional associations focused on environmental sustainability.