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Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for increased investment in scientific research to develop plant-based and biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics as Ghana intensifies efforts to tackle plastic pollution.
She proposed providing additional funding to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to explore the use of locally available crops, including cassava and hemp, in producing environmentally friendly packaging materials.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the proposal on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during her vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
She said Ghana had abundant plant resources that could be harnessed to produce alternatives capable of breaking down naturally without causing long-term environmental damage.
The Korle Klottey Member of Parliament stressed that addressing plastic waste would require a coordinated effort involving government institutions, businesses, communities and individuals.
She also called for stronger measures to prevent hazardous waste and toxic chemicals from contaminating the environment, particularly water bodies and groundwater.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said landfill sites should be constructed with impermeable foundations to prevent harmful substances from leaching into the soil and underground water.
She described the measure as essential and suggested that waste management practices used at some electronic waste collection centres could be adopted more widely.
The Minister-designate further advocated for waste segregation at source, saying households, schools and communities should separate waste according to type to make recycling and composting more effective.
She also encouraged the exploration of technologies capable of converting waste into energy and other useful products.
Among the options she mentioned were using solid waste to generate thermal power, converting plastics into fuel and cooking gas through pyrolysis, and recycling suitable plastics into reusable materials.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said a combination of public education, stronger enforcement and innovative waste-management solutions would be necessary to address Ghana’s plastic waste challenge effectively.