Plastic pollution in Ghana: 7 facts you should know

WasteCure Team10 May 20246 min readEducation

Plastic pollution is one of Ghana's most visible environmental problems. From choked gutters in Accra to plastic-lined beaches in Cape Coast, the scale of the challenge is clear. But behind the visible waste are some important numbers that help explain why action is so urgent.

1. Ghana generates over 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually

According to UNEP, Ghana generates approximately 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Of this, only about 5% is currently recycled. The remainder ends up in landfills, drains, waterways, or is burned.

2. Only 5% of plastic is recycled

A report by the World Bank found that Ghana's recycling rate is among the lowest in West Africa. The vast majority of plastic waste is not collected or processed, despite the existence of a growing recycling industry.

3. Ghana is a top contributor to ocean plastic in Africa

Research published in Science Advances identified Ghana among the top African countries contributing to ocean plastic pollution. The Volta and Ankobra rivers are among the rivers carrying the most plastic to the sea, according to a study by The Ocean Cleanup.

4. Plastic blocks drains and causes flooding

During the rainy season, plastic waste clogs gutters and drainage systems across Ghanaian cities. The Ghana Meteorological Agency and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) have linked plastic-choked drains to repeated flooding in Accra, Kumasi and other urban centres.

5. The economic cost is significant

A World Bank study estimated that the cost of environmental degradation in Ghana amounts to approximately 10% of GDP. Plastic waste management, flooding damage, and health impacts from burning all contribute to this cost.

6. Recycling creates jobs

Despite the low recycling rate, Ghana's informal waste sector employs thousands of people who collect, sort and sell recyclable materials. Formalising and expanding this sector, as WasteCure is doing in Kwabre East, could create thousands more green jobs.

7. Change is possible

Communities across Ghana are taking action. From municipal bans on single-use plastics to community clean-ups and recycling enterprises like WasteCure, the momentum is building. Every kilogram of plastic diverted from the environment is a step toward a cleaner Ghana.