Accra: Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), emphasized the necessity of repositioning West Africa's waste sector to serve as a catalyst for sustainable development rather than a burden on communities. His remarks came during the opening ceremony of a three-day Western Africa Sub-Regional Workshop on Waste Management and Circular Economy in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, participants at the workshop will engage in discussions over the next three days covering policy, regulation, financing, technology, and community engagement. They will explore practical strategies to enhance data systems, incorporate inclusive approaches, and scale up circular economy innovations. Mr. Ibrahim highlighted that the challenge for the region extends beyond safe waste disposal to transforming waste into resources, opportunities, and drivers for sustainable development. He noted that the concept of a circular economy provides an opportunity to reduce waste, recover valuable materials, create green jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For Ghana, waste management is not just an environmental issue but also a matter of public health, economic resilience, and climate action. Through collaboration with the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) and other partners, Ghana has been designated as the West Africa Regional Hub for policy support on waste management and resource circularity. This designation places a responsibility on Ghana to convene forums where knowledge can be shared, best practices exchanged, and regional cooperation strengthened.
Mr. Ibrahim encouraged participants to be frank, practical, and forward-looking, asserting that together, they could advance the vision of a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous sub-region. Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD, stated that with only five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the urgency to transition from a linear to a circular economy is greater than ever. He pointed out that waste is now a resource, a challenge, and an opportunity, but issues such as open dumping, burning of waste, limited recycling infrastructure, and marginalization of the informal sector continue to impede progress in Western Africa.
Reliable data is crucial for effective policy, yet data gaps in waste management remain a significant barrier to evidence-based decision-making, as highlighted in recent UN assessments. The workshop aims to address these gaps by enhancing technical capacity, promoting regional collaboration, and introducing the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS), which Ghana is championing as a regional hub.
Mr. Kyonsig Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ghana, commended Ghana's progress in the field through initiatives like the National Plastics Management Policy and the establishment of recycling and composting facilities in every region. He noted that these efforts serve as a model for the broader West African region. The Ambassador added that Korea would continue to work closely with Ghana and Western African countries to support sustainable waste management and the transition to circular economy initiatives in the region.
