Ghana

Setting a regional model for sustainably managing plastics and transitioning to a circular economy.

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Ghana’s Challenge

Man Working with Machine Weaver in Textile Factory. Image: Getty/AM29

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Ghana generates around 1.1 million tons of plastic waste per year – 5% of which is collected for recycling.

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The Government of Ghana has issued 3 legislative actions to address the mounting plastic pollution crisis.

The Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP)

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Member organizations in Ghana collaborating through the NPAP platform

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Official launch of the Ghana NPAP

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Official launch of the Ghana NPAP

Home to 29 million people and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Ghana is committed to tackling the plastics "menace" that has ballooned in recent years and triggered a myriad of environmental and public health challenges.

In October 2019, under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana became the first African nation to join the Global Plastic Action Partnership, thus establishing the Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP).

The Ghana NPAP serves as the national platform for multistakeholder cooperation, facilitating initiatives and funding to scale up and accelerate in-country partnerships that address plastic waste and pollution while contributing to the nation’s progress towards achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NPAP works closely with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and over 120 Ghanaian partners across all sectors.

For more information about the Ghana NPAP, please contact the secretariat at ghana@globalplasticaction.org.

National Targets

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Ghana is committed to fast-tracking the actions needed to achieve zero plastic leakage into oceans and waterways.

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The NPAP is supporting Ghana in the transition towards a fully circular economy for plastics.

The Strategy

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Knowledge
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Community
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Investment

The Ghana NPAP is undertaking a scoping and diagnostic exercise in Ghana to identify interventions that will have the greatest impact within the plastics value chain and oversee the preparation and establishment of an evidence-based baseline. A key deliverable for 2020 will be the development of a national roadmap for sustainably managing plastics across the product lifecycle and reducing Ghana’s plastic waste challenge, while continuing to boost the country's economic growth.

Implementation

The Ghana NPAP is responsible for driving the implementation of national action plans to combat plastic pollution. Its priorities include: incentivizing changes in material use; building capacity in waste management and recycling; enabling innovation and technology transfer; raising raising awareness and changing behaviours to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics; promoting gender equality and meaningful work; and ensuring transparent governance and accountability in the transition to a circular plastics economy.

Action Plan

The Ghana Multistakeholder Action Plan will be announced in the near future. Please continue to check back for details about its release.

With more than 120 member organizations, the Ghana NPAP is the leading national convener of stakeholders, initiatives and funding to tackle plastic waste and pollution and champion the transition towards a circular plastics economy. The NPAP is co-chaired by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and by Philomena Tan, Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana Limited.

Steering Board Members

  • Government: Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development; Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources; Office of the President
  • Business: Association of Ghana Industries; Coca-Cola West Africa; Dow West Africa; Environmental Service Providers Association; Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association; Nestlé Ghana Limited
  • NGOs/IGOs: Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation; Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund; National House of Chiefs; WIEGO Ghana; UNDP Ghana; UNIDO; World Bank Group
  • Diplomatic Missions: High Commission of Canada; High Commission of the United Kingdom

The NPAP will direct global and local investments, as well as funding and support from inter-governmental organization partners, towards high-impact initiatives to reduce plastic marine debris.

Spotlight on Action

Meet the changemakers working on the frontlines of Ghana's movement to combat plastic pollution.

April 21, 2020

Podcast: An evidence-based approach to tackling plastic pollution

Podcast

April 21, 2020

‘If we don’t tackle this problem, it’s going to overtake us’: Interview with GPAP Director

News

September 5, 2019

Ghana Heralds New Era for Plastic Pollution Action in Africa

Press Release

September 24, 2018

Beyond Bags, Bottles and Straws: New Partnership to Tackle Plastic Waste from Source to Sea

Press Release