Global Sound Management of Chemicals: A Developing Country Perspective from Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is one of the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in the world. Her capacity to produce and consume the material wealth of the world and therefore to pollute the global environment with hazardous chemicals is very small compared to those of the recognised developed countries. In spite of this, Sierra Leone recognises that the challenges of maintaining a wholesome environment are best addressed from a global perspective. Thus Sierra Leone, as a responsible global player, has been making significant contributions to the global efforts in sanitising our planet of hazardous chemicals through more prudent production, use and disposal regimes as prescribed by the various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). This article highlights the contribution of the author, an Associate Professor at the University of Sierra Leone, to the sound management of a specific set of chemicals called POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) through his participation on the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) on the platform of the Stockholm Convention.