World Environment Day: GYEM demands national ban on single-use plastics

As the world marks World Environment Day under the theme "Ending Global Plastic Pollution," GYEM is calling for a national ban on single-use plastics in Ghana.

The Ghana Youth Environmental Movement is urging policymakers to take immediate action to address the country's plastic pollution crisis, which sees 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually.

At a press conference held in Accra today, June 5, 2025, to commemorate the day, Ms. Glory Emmanuella Appiah, National Coordinator of GYEM, said, "We cannot afford to wait any longer. Plastic pollution is a national emergency that requires a collective response. We need to work together to ban single-use plastics, promote sustainable alternatives, and protect our environment."

GYEM is advocating for a national roadmap to ban single-use plastics in Ghana by 2027. The proposed roadmap includes a phased ban on specific types of single-use plastics, incentives for businesses producing sustainable alternatives, and capacity-building for local authorities.

"We commend the Environmental Protection Agency for its recent commitment to ban single-use plastics in designated areas," Ms. Appiah said. "However, we urge them to fast-track the legislative processes required to ban harmful single-use plastics nationwide."

As GYEM marks World Environment Day, the organization is calling on all Ghanaians to join the fight against plastic pollution. "We need a unified voice to ensure plastic pollution remains high on Ghana's development agenda," she emphasized.

GYEM has been at the forefront of the anti-plastic campaign in Ghana, mobilizing communities and equipping young people with knowledge and skills. The organization is confident that with collective action and political will, Ghana can become a leader in the fight against plastic pollution.