EPA pushes coordinated action to tackle Ghana’s plastic pollution crisis at national dialogue 

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has called for stronger coordination among government institutions, the private sector, civil society, academia and communities to tackle plastic pollution in Ghana.

The call was made at a policy dialogue on plastic pollution organised by the EPA in partnership with the German Embassy under its Environmental Diplomacy Project.

The dialogue focused on strengthening policy coherence and multi-stakeholder action, with discussions centred on plastic waste management, policy implementation, sustainable alternatives, financing, private sector participation and public awareness.

Speaking at the event held in Accra on Friday, September 11, the Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, said Ghana had moved beyond the policy development stage and must now focus on implementation.

She said although Ghana had made some progress through initiatives such as the National Plastic Management Policy and other regulatory measures, stronger coordination and resources are needed to achieve measurable results.

“The more important question is whether these policies are sufficiently coordinated, adequately resourced, and effectively implemented to deliver measurable results," she noted.

Prof. Browne Klutse said plastic pollution is not the responsibility of the EPA alone, stressing the need for all stakeholders to play their part in addressing the challenge.

She said the proposed National Partnership for Clean Oceans could provide a platform for government, businesses, academia, civil society organisations and development partners to coordinate their efforts towards cleaner waterways and coastlines.

“Plastic pollution is not the responsibility of one institution alone, as I said, or one sector. It is a shared national responsibility," she stressed.

She further called for a circular economy approach that would reduce unnecessary plastic use while promoting reuse, recycling and recovery of value from waste.

Germany offers lessons on plastic waste management

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Accra, H.E Leonie Reese, said plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but also has implications for public health and the economy.

She said Germany is interested in sharing its experience with Ghana while recognising the need to adapt solutions to the country's specific circumstances.

“It's not about taking those ideas literally from Germany, but finding an adaptation for the Ghanaian context," she noted.

Ms Reese cited Germany's deposit-refund system for plastic bottles as one example of an approach that creates an economic incentive for consumers to return used packaging.

Ministry calls for a coordinated approach
On his part, the Head of the Environment Directorate at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Peter Derry, who spoke on behalf of the Ministry's Chief Director, said Ghana had already introduced several measures to address plastic pollution.

He cited the National Plastic Management Policy, the circular economy framework and action plan, the planned Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme and the establishment of buyback centres.

He also said Ghana is contributing to international efforts to address plastic pollution through the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on plastics.

“We need to move away from working in silos to working in a whole of government and a whole of society approach to addressing plastics as a menace to our country," he urged.