The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has stated that calls for a ban on plastic materials are not practical at this time.
According to the Minister, efforts are underway to enhance recycling initiatives aimed at addressing this issue.
He mentioned that plastic recycling equipment has already been acquired to help manage plastic waste and improve hygiene across the country.
Plastic waste poses a significant problem for Ghana, with over a million tons produced annually, while only a meager two to five percent is collected and recycled.
This alarming situation has raised concerns among many in Ghana, who fear a crisis in the near future.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, Godfred Appiah Acheampong, told Plastic Journalist Fatawu Bayaga that, the situation is gradually escalating into a crisis in the agricultural sector and called for immediate action.
Some experts, including Abena Dufie Wiredu Bremang, the Deputy Director in charge of the Water Management Department at the Water Resources Commission, stated that while a ban may not be feasible currently, the government should consider banning single-use plastics if the problem persists.
For the Local Government Minister, since recycling plants have already been established in Ghana, the primary focus should be on promoting recycling and enhancing public education about waste segregation.
“While a ban on plastics may not be immediately feasible, our primary strategy is to promote recycling. With recycling plants already established in the country, the focus now is on public education and waste segregation,” he said during a meeting with religious leaders in Accra in April 2025.
As Ghana prepares to phase out single-use plastics, activists, scientists and entrepreneurs are seeking sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging.
Plastic pollution is a growing threat to Ghana’s environment, clogging drains, polluting beaches, and endangering marine life. In response, activists like Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo are leading a campaign to reduce single-use plastics.
Richmond’s message is clear: small changes, like switching to reusable bags, can have a massive impact, potentially replacing up to 10,000 single-use plastics per person each year.
The movement is gaining momentum across sectors. Entrepreneurs, scientists, and consumers are all playing a role.
At the University of Ghana, researchers are developing plant-based alternatives to plastic packaging using mango seeds and peels.
Meanwhile, local businesses like Nokware Skincare are embracing sustainable packaging made from calabash, jute, and recycled cocoa sacks.
Though not all packaging can be plastic-free, these efforts show that innovation and tradition can go hand in hand. And a ban on plastic bags could boost demand for eco-friendly products.
Change is also happening at the grassroots level. Some shopkeepers are already offering paper, textile, or cellulose-based alternatives to plastic bags.
These options may require more resources to produce, but their reusability makes them a smarter, more sustainable choice.
Stylish woven baskets and fabric bags are not only practical — they’re fashionable too.
Richmond Kennedy Quarcoo and his team continue to spread awareness, hoping to inspire a nationwide shift in habits.
Their message is simple but powerful: a cleaner Ghana starts with one reusable bag at a time.
The Austrian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Jürgen Heissel, has enbarked on a working visit to the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP) to explore opportunities and strengthen collaboration with the reputable waste processing company.
During his visit on May 23, 2025, the Ambassador expressed interest in discussing potential partnerships between his office and KCARP within the realm of green technology.
This initiative aims to foster strategic alliances that promote the use of green technologies in environmental sanitation, ensuring a sustainable environment for all.
Green technologies and sustainability are essential for achieving environmentally friendly practices.
Innovations such as renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydropower), energy-efficient technologies, and waste management solutions play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating pollution, and conserving resources.
If effectively implemented, this partnership can help address environmental challenges related to green technology in the Ashanti Region and across Ghana, leading to a healthier environment.
Eugene Amo-Asamoah, the Business and Communication Manager of KCARP, commended the Ambassador and his team for their visit.
He assured them of the company’s willingness to collaborate with the Austrian government to enhance the green environmental ecosystem.
The Ambassador and his Counselor also took the opportunity to tour the processing plant and observe the creative applications of modern waste processing equipment.
“The Ambassador and his Counselor Christian Irbinger, were enthused with the innovations and talents at our disposal as well as the impact KCARP is having in the environmental and climate sustainability space,” Mr. Asamoah asserted.
KCARP stands as the largest waste recycling company in Africa, with the capacity to process approximately 2,400 tons of municipal and solid waste daily.
Plastic recycling is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to combat the plastic crisis.
Both rural and urban communities are continuously battling plastic waste, which is not only an ongoing challenge but is gradually becoming a national menace.
Ghana produces over a million metric tons of plastic waste annually, yet only a meager two to five percent of this is collected and recycled.
This issue has escalated into a national crisis, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where Kumasi—the second-largest city in Ghana—finds itself at the center of the problem.
One company actively addressing this issue is the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies.
Not only is it the largest facility of its kind in Ghana, but also in Africa.
Sitting on 180 acres of land in Adagya, Kumasi, the plant has the capacity to process approximately 2,400 tons of various waste daily.
With various kinds of modern technologies, KCARP receives, treats, and recovers valuable materials from waste, including compost, plastics, metals, and paper, among other products.
The company does a lot, if we want to talk about all, it may take us ‘months’, so let’s focus on plastics for now.
I had the opportunity to visit the company and tour the facility with its Communications Manager, Mr. Eugene Amo-Asamoah.
Waste is primarily transported to the plant by trucks and tricycles, locally known as “Aboboyaa,” and is usually delivered in mixed form at the receiving area before being sorted.
Plastics are meticulously separated into various types, such as PET, PVC, and HDPE, by well-trained workers.
Some are processed through a palletizing process, while others are baled and sent to other processing companies, both locally and internationally.
KCARP has been a game-changer in the region, striving to transform the narrative surrounding plastic waste.
Before the establishment of this company, the Ashanti Region faced a severe waste crisis.
However, over the past few years, significant progress has been made.
Approximately 400 tons of plastic waste are received at the plant, constituting between 16% and 20% of the total waste processed at the facility.
This reflects the substantial investments made by the company to alleviate the situation.
Research indicates that, the quantities of plastic waste will rise exponentially by 2050, not just in the world but Ghana too.
Data suggests that global solid waste generation could increase from the current 17 billion tons to 27 billion tons annually by that year.
Ad-hoc landfill and dumpsite practices, driven by urbanization and land scarcity, have made waste treatment and disposal challenging issues in Ghana.
Current practices pose a major threat to the health of both present and future generations.
KCARP views this as a critical issue that must be addressed.
Since its inception, the company has received considerable commendation from various institutions and individuals, both locally and internationally.
Former Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, under whose administration the facility was commissioned, commended the Jospong Group of Companies for establishing such an important organization aimed at tackling municipal and solid waste.
Recently, members of Ghana’s Parliament Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources expressed their admiration for the company’s operations during a visit in April 2025.
KCARP has plans for expansion throughout the Ashanti Region and beyond.
Without a doubt, KCARP is rewriting the story of waste management in Ghana and deserves recognition and support.
The government should assist this vital company through electricity subsidies, as they are not only addressing an impending crisis but also creating employment opportunities for the youth.
If any company deserves applause and support, it is KCARP.
The Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP) has stated that plastic waste is a significant contributor to flooding in major cities across Ghana.
According to the organization, over a million tons of plastic waste are produced in the country every year, with only about two to five percent being collected and recycled.
Numerous drains and streams in Kumasi are clogged with plastics, especially the Pelele River and the Aboabo Stream, contributing to perennial flooding in the area.
Eugene Amo-Asamoah, the Business and Communication Manager of KCARP, noted that uncollected plastic waste often clogs waterways, leading to flooding issues.
“When waste is not properly collected, handled, or recycled, it clogs our waterways, resulting in flooding,” he explained.
Speaking with Fatawu Bayaga as part of a plastic waste documentary, he further elaborated that flooding can displace people, cause loss of life, and damage property due to the improper disposal of plastics.
Mr. Amo-Asamoah pointed out additional consequences of indiscriminate waste dumping.
He explained that some individuals resort to burning plastics to dispose of them, releasing harmful gases into the air.
Prolonged exposure to these gases can lead to cancer and respiratory conditions.
Research indicates that the amount of plastic in the ocean is projected to double in the next 15 years, and by 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016).
Eugene finds this situation concerning, especially since plastics can choke aquatic animals and accumulate in humans who consume these contaminated creatures.
“If proper care is not taken to handle plastics here and now, in the very near future, if you go to cast your net to catch a fish, you might catch plastics, and it means that if these plastics abound and they’re in huge quantities in the water bodies, it will also destroy aquatic life, which is not something we’re interested to hear,” he noted.
Eugene Amo-Asamoah expressed the need for a change in behavior to significantly reduce the growing problem of plastic waste in the country.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has provided the residents of Esaso Adankwame with an ultramodern solar-powered borehole to address their water needs.
Some areas of the community were struggling to access water, forcing residents to walk long distances or enter private homes to obtain this essential resource.
The community members expressed their gratitude for this timely support.
“We thank Almighty Allah for this massive project that was given to this community. In fact, we never thought of getting such a project here because we had difficulty getting water, the completion of this project is actually timely,” a resident, Hidir Iddrisu noted.
According to the residents, this project has brought immense relief, and they are at a loss for how to express their gratitude to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
The Chief Imam and the Unit Committee Chairman of the community mosque were filled with excitement and prayed for Allah’s continued guidance and support.
They commended the organization for the project, noting that it will significantly benefit both Muslims and the entire community.
Women in Esaso Adankwame expressed their excitement, stating that it would greatly alleviate their struggles.
More than 500 residents are expected to benefit from this initiative.
Ishmael Mohammed Kamil, Executive Director of Markaz Aleawn Alyaqin Humanitarian Service, the implementing partner, explained that the project’s goal was to alleviate the water challenges in the community.
“We had a call from one of our people within this community, asking that we should come to their aid, in terms of drilling a borehole for them, so we came here, checked the whole community and found this place as the suitable location,” he said.
He also mentioned that the organization is supporting other communities throughout various regions in Ghana.
In total, there are 14 boreholes, including five solar-powered and nine hand-pump boreholes, which have all been successfully completed.
Beneficiary communities include Jamasi, Agona, Atebubu Mempeasem, Ejisu Kwaso, Kwojobi Kintampo, Esaso Adankwame, and Aboaso Heman, among others.
Umar Harris, a youth activist, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to establish a performance scorecard to assess the progress of key ministries.
According to Harris, this scorecard should include clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of ministers.
He believes that by implementing this system, the President will be able to:
– Objectively assess ministerial performance – Identify areas of strength and weakness – Make informed decisions regarding ministerial appointments and reshuffles – Promote accountability, transparency, and efficiency within the ministries
This call comes at a time when the nation is facing uncertainty surrounding its energy sector.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Orange FM’s Sunrise on May 22, 2025, Harris expressed his conviction that this initiative will enhance good governance, boost public confidence, and ultimately drive national development.
He urged President Mahama to take swift action in implementing the performance scorecard for the betterment of the nation.
Plastic waste For decades, recycling plastic has been a losing game — too slow, too expensive, and too limited in scope.
Most methods rely on high-heat extrusion and mechanical separation, degrading the material each cycle until it’s useless.
The result? Over 90% of global plastic waste still ends up in landfills or incinerators, despite widespread collection efforts and consumer demand for sustainability.
That cycle may have just ended.
A new depolymerization breakthrough now makes it possible to reverse-engineer plastic — not by melting it, but by chemically unzipping its molecular chains at room temperature.
In just 15 minutes, mixed or unsorted plastic waste can be transformed into virgin-grade monomers like terephthalic acid (TPA), suitable for use in packaging, textiles, and high-performance materials.
The process runs cold. The inputs are cheap. The yield is high. And most importantly, the output is indistinguishable from new — meaning it can be fed right back into the supply chain without compromise.
It’s not just recycling, it’s molecular rebirth. This rapid process unlocks the core value in plastic waste, creating a massive environmental and financial opportunity simultaneously.
In an industry still burning waste to solve a waste problem, creating more problems along the way, this isn’t just a better method — it’s a fundamental rewrite of the economics.
But let’s back up a bit here to view the bigger picture …
It illustrates not only one of the most exciting new investment opportunities in the clean tech sector, but also one of the most positive developments on the climate scene in ages.
Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental annoyance. It’s a significant contributor to climate change and a growing threat to human health.
Recent studies reveal that plastics are responsible for approximately 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which translates into 1.8 billion tones of CO? in 2019 alone.
Projections indicate that by 2050, emissions from plastic production and incineration could consume up to 15% of the global carbon budget.
Beyond emissions, plastics are infiltrating our ecosystems and bodies. Microplastics have been detected in human blood, raising concerns about their potential to cause inflammation, disrupt endocrine functions, and impair immune responses.
As plastics degrade, they release methane and ethylene, potent greenhouse gases that further accelerate global warming.
The emergence of groundbreaking depolymerization technology, capable of reversing plastic waste into its original monomers at room temperature in just 15 minutes, has the potential to thoroughly disrupt the recycling industry.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on high heat and pressure, this new process offers a low-energy, high-yield solution, producing virgin-grade materials ready for reuse.
This isn’t some far?off vision, either. The platform is already in live pilot runs-and it’s already starting to rewrite the economics of recycling.
The government is committed to making affordable data bundles a reality for Ghanaians by the end of 2025. Speaking at an event to commemorate this year’s World Telecommunications and Information Society Day in Accra, Minister for Communications Samuel Nartey George addressed public expectations and outlined a clear road map toward reducing data costs across the country.
The event, held under the global theme “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation,” brought together key stakeholders in Ghana’s telecom space, including regulators, industry leaders, and representatives from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Mr. George addressed recent social media discussions where he had trended over the weekend for public expectations surrounding data pricing. “People think data prices must be cheaper by the stroke of my pen,” he said.
He explained that a committee he established in February, comprising telecom operators and sector players, was tasked not with immediate price reductions but with developing a strategic road map to guide Ghana towards more affordable data bundles.
“In 13 days, that committee, working without receiving a penny from the taxpayers’ coffers, delivered a road map,” Sam George noted.
Mr. George emphasized that any solution must strike a balance between reducing data costs and maintaining industry viability. “I wish I could fix it arbitrarily, but it takes a very calculated attempt not to create further distortions by acting irrationally,” he added.
To further ensure transparency and data-driven decisions, the minister revealed that he has engaged the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to conduct an independent study on Ghana’s data tariffs. The findings, expected within eight weeks, will be aligned with reports from the National Communications Authority (NCA) to shape informed government policy.
Mr. George assured that he will not act arbitrarily or give directives that will affect the industry. ” What I will do is to consult with industry, consult with stakeholders, and make decisions that protect investment in Ghana but also ensure that Ghanaian customers and Ghanaian citizens have the best quality of service and get the best pricing for the services that they pay for.”
The minister further said that the cost of data prices will be reduced by the end of 2025. “To the young people of our country and the people of this country, my promise was that by the end of this year, we would see prices of data drop, and I remain committed to it. We will deliver on that, but trust the process. I trust the technical competence of the regulator to work with the telecom companies to ensure the viability of the businesses, but also ensure that we get better value for what we are paying.”
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has begun a massive desilting initiative along the Aboabo stream, which flows through Anloga Junction and other flood-prone areas in the city.
Following heavy rainfall, the Airport Roundabout in Kumasi and surrounding areas frequently experience severe flooding, causing frustration among residents.
Last Saturday’s rainfall resulted in busy roads in the area overflowing with large volumes of floodwaters.
Residents living near the stream express their anxiety whenever rain is imminent, as their homes are often taken over by floods.
“This is where we stay; anytime there’s rainfall, water covers everywhere. This mattress here belongs to my children, but it became wet due to the flooding,” one frustrated resident lamented.
Over the years, flooding has caused millions of cedis in property damage and resulted in loss of lives in the Aboabo stream area.
To address this ongoing challenge, NADMO is undertaking a significant desilting exercise to clear debris, including plastic waste, sand, and shrubs from the stream.
Mohammed Nashir Ibrahim, the Ashanti Regional Director of NADMO, stated that the initiative is imperative, given the persistent flooding in the city.
He noted that 17 flood hotspots have been identified for desilting, including Pelele, Owabi, Anloga, and Parkoso.
Mr. Ibrahim explained that this desilting effort is a temporary measure, and discussions are ongoing with the Hydrological Services to expand the culverts as a permanent solution to the flooding issue.
“We have discussed with hydrological services, you see how tiny the place is, so they’re proposing to the powers that be for the culverts to be expanded,” he indicated.
He further pointed out that, NADMO took this action because the various local government authorities are yet to be fully constituted, and they did not want to sit aloof while disaster struck, as prevention is part of their mandate.
Mr. Ibrahim also urged against building on waterways to significantly reduce the risk of flooding.
He called on philanthropic individuals and organizations to support NADMO’s efforts with fuel and other resources to aid in the proper dredging of drains throughout the city and beyond.
