Accra: The Institute of Nature and Environmental Conservation (INEC-Ghana) has raised concerns over the growing threat of plastic pollution in the country, calling on the government to implement stringent policies to curb the crisis. Mr. David Kwarteng, Executive Director of INEC-Ghana, proposed the enactment of a law that mandates supermarkets and shopping centers to charge shoppers who fail to bring reusable bags, as a way of discouraging single-use plastic bag consumption.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kwarteng highlighted the unsustainable rate of plastic usage in Ghana during a speech commemorating the 2025 World Environment Day. He stressed that the country's poor waste disposal systems contribute to the indiscriminate dumping of plastics, with the ocean becoming a primary dumping ground for plastic waste, further intensifying environmental harm.
Mr. Kwarteng warned that plastic pollution poses serious health risks to ocean biodiversity, noting that aquatic animals, many of which are consumed by humans, ingest plastic particles, thereby increasing the risk of plastics entering the human food chain. Citing data from the 2023 World Economic Forum, he noted that Ghana produces approximately 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 9.5 percent collected for recycling.
Globally, around eight million tonnes of plastic waste leak into the ocean each year. If urgent and collective action is not taken, it is estimated that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Mr. Kwarteng stressed the need for Ghana to take proactive measures, including the promotion of paper-based alternatives, increased public awareness on reusing plastics, and the development of durable, reusable shopping bags.
This year's World Environment Day is being observed under the theme: 'Ending Plastic Pollution: Repurposing Plastic Use.'
