Plastic Waste Costs Ghana $6 Billion Each Year, Says Environment Minister at Sustainability Summit

Plastic Waste Costs Ghana $6 Billion Each Year, Says Environment Minister at Sustainability Summit

Ghana is losing an estimated $6 billion annually due to the escalating plastic waste crisis, according to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. Speaking at a national sustainability summit, the minister highlighted the urgent need for stronger waste management systems, public-private partnerships, and behavioral change to combat the environmental and economic toll of plastic pollution. The revelation underscores the high stakes involved in addressing Ghana’s mounting waste challenge.

Speaking at the Environmental Sustainability Summit in Accra, Dr. Muhammed painted a stark picture of the economic and ecological toll of unchecked plastic waste. Ghana’s plastic waste generation has surged from 40,000 tonnes to over 1.1 million tonnes per year, with only 9% currently recycled and nearly half left uncollected.

The result, the minister noted, is blocked drainage systems, escalating urban flooding, and increasing contamination of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

Plastic Waste Crisis Costs Ghana $6 Billion Annually

“We are fast approaching a point where the marine ecosystem could become more plastic than fish,” he said.

The minister underscored the multi-dimensional impact of plastic pollution, calling it both a public health emergency and a macroeconomic burden. Beyond the direct costs of managing waste and repairing damage, Ghana faces reduced fishery yields, degraded tourism assets, and higher healthcare costs due to microplastics in food and water systems.

Plastic Waste Crisis Costs Ghana $6 Billion Annually

“Public health risks and the economic costs are huge, over $6 billion each year,” Dr. Muhammed noted.

Policy Shift: Producer Responsibility and Local Alternatives

In response, MESTI is drafting mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, which will require plastic manufacturers and importers to financially contribute to the recovery and recycling of their products. This policy aims to create a circular plastics economy by shifting the burden of waste management from the state to producers.

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The ministry is also working with researchers and industry players to promote locally produced, biodegradable alternatives, positioning sustainability as a catalyst for innovation and green industrialization.

Environmental economists at the summit backed the minister’s call, urging immediate regulatory and fiscal reforms to correct the current market failure. Without systemic intervention, experts warn that Ghana’s urban and coastal infrastructure will remain under siege, jeopardizing investments in housing, tourism, and public health.

As Ghana sets its sights on becoming a regional leader in climate resilience and green growth, tackling the plastic crisis is becoming not just an environmental imperative, but a strategic economic priority.

Last Updated on June 27, 2025 by Senel Media

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