Plastic waste, often seen as an environmental menace, could become one of Ghana’s most valuable resources—if only properly managed.
That was the compelling message from Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Acting CEO of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), during a keynote address marking World Environment Day at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Fiapre.
Speaking virtually to an audience of students, academics, and environmental professionals, Prof. Klutse called for a “national paradigm shift” in the country’s approach to plastic usage and waste management. She urged Ghanaians to reframe plastics as a “valuable resource” rather than mere waste, citing their potential in advancing sustainable development when handled responsibly.
“The problem is not plastics per se, but how we choose to manage them,” Prof. Klutse emphasized. “When reused and repurposed efficiently, plastics can contribute to innovation, employment, and even construction.”
Unveiling Ghana’s Plastic Waste Reality
Prof. Klutse revealed that Ghana generates over one billion tons of municipal waste annually, but only 58% is properly managed. The remaining 42%—either incinerated, buried, or dumped indiscriminately—poses serious threats to biodiversity, public health, and economic livelihoods.
The EPA boss highlighted alarming trends such as microplastic contamination in water bodies, urging citizens and institutions to embrace the four key principles of waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse.
Driving Policy and Innovation
As part of efforts to reverse current trends, Prof. Klutse outlined a three-pillar strategy for transforming Ghana’s plastic economy:
-
Policy-Driven Transformation – Backed by the National Plastic Management Policy.
-
Regulatory Enforcement – Targeting better implementation of plastic waste laws.
-
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – Holding producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of plastic products.
She also spotlighted Ghana’s new Circular Plastic Innovation Hub, which supports startups and projects that turn plastic waste into eco-friendly products—such as recycled construction materials.
“We are investing in biodegradable alternatives and scaling the ‘Repurpose Ghana’ campaign to reach households, schools, and businesses,” Prof. Klutse added.
Academia Joining the Fight
Dr. Mary Antwi, Head of UENR’s Department of Environmental Management, echoed Prof. Klutse’s sentiments, calling the current crisis one of mismanagement rather than material.
“Plastic isn’t the enemy; our attitude toward it is,” Dr. Antwi noted. “Reducing single-use plastics and rethinking waste as a resource are key to cleaner oceans and landfills.”
She announced UENR’s intention to partner with the EPA under a World Bank-funded project to establish a Centre for E-Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability, aimed at nurturing responsible environmental practices in academia and beyond.
Call to Action
Both speakers stressed the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to tackle the plastic challenge, urging the public to segregate waste, adopt reusable packaging, and support local recycling markets.
As Ghana commemorates World Environment Day, the call is clear: the country must stop seeing plastic as trash and start treating it as a tool for transformation.
