By: Prof. Edward Wiafe Debrah, Environmentalist and Pro. Vice-Chancellor, University of Environment and sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya, Eastern Region
Every year on June 5, World Environment Day brings nations and communities together to reflect, evaluate, and act on the most pressing environmental issues of our time. For 2025, the global theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” resonates powerfully with Ghana’s growing environmental challenges. From the streets of Accra to the shores of Cape Coast, plastic waste has become an omnipresent nuisance and a potent threat to ecological integrity, public health, and economic prosperity.
Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation and proliferation of plastic products in the environment, especially in areas where they are not biodegradable. Plastics, largely derived from petrochemicals, can persist in ecosystems for hundreds of years. From plastic bags and sachet water wrappers to bottles and single-use containers, these items often find their way into drains, rivers, and oceans, forming a blight on landscapes and choking biodiversity.
When not managed properly, plastic waste clogs waterways, causes flooding, destroys marine ecosystems, poisons animals, and contributes to the overall degradation of the environment. It breaks down into microplastics, which enter the food chain and pose health risks to humans and animals alike. Despite increasing awareness, the problem continues to worsen.
Ghana generates approximately 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, according to a World Bank report. Alarmingly, only about 5% of this is recycled. The rest ends up in open spaces, landfills, water bodies, and gutters. Urban centers like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi bear the brunt of this crisis. Walk through any market or street corner, and you’ll find plastic debris strewn about—an unsettling symbol of convenience turned into a crisis.
Comparatively, Ghana produces between 800,000 to 1,000,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans each year, the country’s number one export commodity. This juxtaposition reveals a sobering reality: Ghana is producing more plastic waste than cocoa, which historically has been the bedrock of its economy. This trend is not just an environmental concern; it’s an economic and social red flag.
The proliferation of sachet water plastics, polyethylene shopping bags, food wraps, and other disposable plastic products is accelerating. As urban populations increase, so does consumerism, creating a mounting challenge for waste management authorities already stretched beyond their limits.
If Ghana does not decisively act to halt plastic pollution, the consequences will be dire. The impacts can be categorized into environmental, socio-economic, and health dimensions.
Environmental Impacts
- Waterway Blockages: Accra’s periodic floods can be directly attributed to plastic-clogged drains.
- Marine Life Destruction: Turtles, fish, and birds ingest plastics, mistaking them for food. This causes starvation, internal injuries, and death.
- Soil and Agricultural Degradation: Microplastics reduce soil fertility and affect crop yields.
- Air Pollution: Burning plastics, a common practice, releases toxic dioxins and furans into the air.
Socio-Economic Impacts
- Tourism Decline: Littered beaches and public spaces discourage tourists and tarnish Ghana’s image.
- Reduced Fisheries Productivity: Plastics damage aquatic ecosystems, reducing fish catch and affecting coastal livelihoods.
- Waste Management Costs: Municipalities spend millions of cedis annually to manage waste, much of which is plastic.
Public Health Impacts
- Vector-Borne Diseases: Stagnant water trapped in plastic containers becomes breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Chemical Contamination: Leachates from plastics can enter drinking water sources.
- Food Chain Contamination: Microplastics in fish and vegetables consumed by humans pose long-term health risks.
Beating plastic pollution in Ghana requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. From government policy to individual behavior, coordinated actions are essential.
1. Policy and Regulatory Measures
- Ban Single-Use Plastics: Implement a phased ban on plastic bags, straws, and sachets (Rwanda’s example is a model to emulate).
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Hold manufacturers accountable for the lifecycle of their plastic products.
- Enforcement of Sanitation Laws: Strictly enforce existing environmental sanitation by-laws and penalize non-compliance.
2. Recycling and Circular Economy Initiatives
- Establish More Recycling Centers: Incentivize the private sector to invest in plastic recovery and recycling infrastructure.
- Promote Eco-Entrepreneurship: Support startups that convert plastic waste into paving blocks, furniture, and building materials.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaborations between local governments and industries to create sustainable waste management systems.
3. Behavioral Change Campaigns
- Nationwide Sensitization: Use mass media, schools, religious platforms, and social media to educate citizens on plastic hazards.
- Green Schools Initiative: Incorporate waste segregation and recycling into school curricula.
- Community Clean-Up Campaigns: Organize monthly clean-up events with local assemblies and youth groups.
4. Innovation and Research
- Biodegradable Alternatives: Invest in research to develop affordable biodegradable packaging materials.
- Data and Monitoring Systems: Implement digital tools to track plastic use, collection, and disposal.
- University-Led Innovation Hubs: Fund academic research on plastic alternatives and pollution mitigation technologies.
5. Incentives and Economic Instruments
- Plastic Tax: Introduce levies on plastic packaging to reduce usage and fund waste management programs.
- Buy-Back Schemes: Encourage consumers to return used plastics for small monetary rewards.
- Green Job Creation: Develop training programs for youth in plastic collection, sorting, and recycling businesses.
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental problem. It is a development challenge that affects health, economy, agriculture, tourism, and the quality of life of all Ghanaians. On this World Environment Day 2025, we are reminded that the fight against plastic pollution is both urgent and winnable.
If Ghana channels the same energy and innovation that it invests in its cocoa sector into plastic waste management, the transformation will be profound. It is time for citizens, businesses, and leaders to rise to the occasion. Beating plastic pollution is not optional; it is essential for a sustainable future.
Let this year’s theme not just be a slogan, but a call to action—to beat plastic pollution now, before it beats us.