Ghana’s fight against single-use plastics has gained significant traction through a strong public-private partnership.
At the forefront of this momentum is the Voluntary Pact to Reduce Single-Use Plastics, a business-led initiative co-designed by local environmental NGO Plastic Punch. The initiative was created in partnership with Ghanaian businesses and with support from the German Development Cooperation under the global Go Circular program.
Backed by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Pact seeks to halve the use of single-use plastics across Ghana by 2030.
It unites supermarkets, banks, retail outlets, and local markets, all committed to environmental sustainability through reduced plastic consumption.
Public Engagement and Consumer Behavior at the Center
Inspired by best practices in Germany, Kenya, and Rwanda, the Pact emphasizes home-grown solutions and behavior change. A flagship campaign under the initiative, Bag the Habit of Single-Use Plastic, encourages Ghanaians to refuse, reduce, and reuse plastic bags in their daily lives.
The campaign supports ongoing advocacy and regulations while highlighting that change begins with simple choices by individuals. Key stakeholders including the EPA, Plastic Punch, the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), and SNEDA Supermarket marked the 2025 World Environment Day with a renewed call for policy reform and civic action.
“Single-use plastics pose a real threat to our environment,” said Hobson Agyapong, Principal Programme Officer at EPA. “The collaborative spirit of the Voluntary Pact connects regulators, civil society, and businesses in finding real solutions.”
To encourage behavioral change, a 50-pesewa charge on plastic bags is being piloted. The aim is to motivate consumers to adopt reusable alternatives.
Supermarkets, SMEs Lead the Transition
Retailers participating in the Pact—including SNEDA, All Needs Supermarket (Legon), and Neha Supermarket—are actively rolling out the Bag the Habit campaign. These efforts highlight supermarkets as a focal point of plastic bag consumption and as critical players in the transition away from single-use plastics.
The country’s food and catering industry, another significant contributor to plastic waste, is also under focus. The Go Circular Project has completed a Business Development Programme in collaboration with Impact Footprints Africa, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises in this sector.
Participating SMEs are now promoting sustainable alternatives. These include using leaves to wrap traditional meals like waakye and replacing plastic packaging with paper bags, reusable jars, and crates.From Accra’s supermarkets to neighborhood food vendors, the shift is gaining momentum. The Voluntary Pact represents a growing national movement, underscoring the shared responsibility for reducing single-use plastics and building a more circular, sustainable Ghana.
Source: Go Circular/GIZ
