Accra — Ghana’s mounting plastic waste crisis is exacting a steep economic toll, draining more than $6 billion annually—an amount equal to nearly 11% of the country’s GDP, according to Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
In remarks delivered at the Environmental Sustainability Summit in Accra on Wednesday and sighted by Accra Street Journal, Dr. Muhammed issued a sobering assessment of the environmental and economic costs of unmanaged plastic waste, calling it “a national threat with cross-cutting consequences on public health, infrastructure, tourism and food systems.”
“We are fast approaching a point where the marine ecosystem could become more plastic than fish,” the minister warned.
📢 GET A DETAILED ARTICLES + JOBS
Join ASJ's WhatsApp Channel and never miss a post or opportunity.
📲 Join ASJ Channel Now
According to ministry estimates, Ghana now generates over 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, a staggering rise from just 40,000 tonnes less than two decades ago. Yet less than 9% of that waste is recycled, and close to 50% remains uncollected, clogging storm drains and polluting waterways.
Economic Impact and Environmental Risk
The $6 billion figure accounts for both direct and indirect losses: urban flooding exacerbated by plastic-choked drains, fisheries disrupted by plastic-contaminated coastal waters, and mounting health costs linked to microplastics in food chains. Experts from the Ghana Statistical Service and environmental NGOs present at the summit backed the data, citing a correlation between plastic waste and economic drag in urban development.
“It’s not just an ecological concern,” Dr. Muhammed said. “This is a public health emergency and a serious macroeconomic burden.”
The minister’s comments reflect growing frustration among policy actors that plastic manufacturers have operated with limited environmental accountability, while the state bears the brunt of clean-up costs.
Regulatory Shift: Extended Producer Responsibility in Focus
To address this imbalance, the Ministry is advancing a legislative framework to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). If passed, the policy will compel producers and importers of plastic products to take financial responsibility for the lifecycle of their packaging — including collection, recycling, and disposal.
Dr. Muhammed described the EPR plan as central to creating “a circular plastic economy” in Ghana. He also announced ministry collaboration with Ghanaian researchers and SMEs to develop biodegradable packaging alternatives sourced from local materials — an effort to stimulate domestic innovation while cutting reliance on synthetic polymers.
Environmental economists at the summit largely endorsed the proposed reforms, noting that market failure in waste externalities has long enabled pollution at scale.
“Without aggressive regulatory intervention, Ghana’s coastal infrastructure, tourism industry, and food security systems remain exposed,” said one economist from the University of Ghana’s Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies.
A Strategic Pivot Toward Green Growth
With Accra facing perennial floods and declining coastal health, the urgency of action is rising as reported by Accra Street Journal. Ghana is positioning itself as a West African leader in climate adaptation and green industrialization, and curbing plastic waste now forms a crucial plank of that agenda.
“Plastic pollution is more than litter,” the minister said. “It is a strategic threat to sustainable development, but also an opportunity — to create green jobs, new industries, and cleaner cities.”
As the government mobilizes legislative tools and private-sector buy-in, the hope is that Ghana’s response to its plastic crisis becomes a regional blueprint for eco-responsible growth.
Last Updated on December 6, 2025 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
Disclaimer: Some content on Accra Street Journal may be aggregated, summarized, or edited from third-party sources for informational purposes. Images and media are used under fair use or royalty-free licenses. Accra Street Journal is a subsidiary of SamBoad Publishing Hub under SamBoad Business Group Ltd, registered in Ghana since 2014.
For concerns or inquiries, please visit our Privacy Policy or Contact Page.
Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
