Ghana grapples with marine plastics as stakeholders push for sweeping policy change

GHANA – Ghana’s escalating plastic pollution crisis is choking marine ecosystems and livelihoods, prompting leading research institutions to call for a national strategy anchored in fiscal reforms, phased bans, and waste-to-energy solutions.

The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) convened a stakeholder engagement at the University of Ghana on September 3 under the theme: “Understanding the Challenges and Policy Dynamics on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter Management in Ghana.”

Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of CEMSE, warned that plastic waste is inflicting “havoc” on the environment through flooding, marine damage, and lost livelihoods. He lamented limited policy-level debate and civil society action on the issue.

“This engagement is a first step to identify the challenges and propose appropriate solutions once and for all,” he said. A report from the dialogue will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition in October.

Nsiah outlined a dual strategy: introducing fiscal policies to curb plastic use while exploring ways to convert waste into energy, thereby creating jobs and supporting sustainable urban development.

“Plastic is very cheap in Ghana, if you make plastic very expensive, it can become a single-use thing, it will change behavior,” he argued.

Rather than an immediate ban, Nsiah called for a phased transition toward biodegradable materials, coupled with regulatory control.

“When we use such language, it gives more confidence, it’s a process we are going to go through in order to get there.”

Professor Simon Bawakyillenuo, Head of the Social Division at ISSER, painted a bleak picture of Ghana’s waters, where fishermen increasingly haul in plastics instead of fish. He highlighted declining stocks as a major threat to food security and coastal livelihoods.

He also criticized policy reversals tied to politics. “Governance is in continuum. Citizens need good policies sustained across administrations. You don’t need to reverse them just to score points,” he stressed.

The consensus from the engagement was clear: Ghana must adopt a multi-pronged strategy combining economic incentives, regulatory enforcement, and policy stability, alongside investment in biodegradable alternatives and waste-to-energy systems.

The recommendations, due in October, are expected to shape Ghana’s most comprehensive approach yet to tackling one of its most pressing environmental emergencies.

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