With plastic pollution posing an urgent threat to Ghana’s environment, health, and economy, stakeholders from across government, business, and civil society came together to mark the official close of the Go Circular Ghana Project, an initiative implemented by the German Development Cooperation over the past three years on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in partnership with MEST and EPA.
Designed to reduce single-use plastics (SUPs) and promote circular economy solutions, the project’s closing event served not just as a celebration of achievements but also laid the groundwork for what’s to come.
From commitment to measurable impact, Go Circular Ghana has proven that reducing plastic waste is not only possible, but also already happening. The project leaves behind scalable tools, business innovations, and cross-sector partnerships that now call for broader adoption.
Turning Plastic Reduction Plans into Tangible Results
The project culminated in three standout interventions:
1. A Roadmap with Sector-Specific Actions
The Roadmap to Phase Down Single-Use Plastics outlines concrete, sector-focused measures for businesses, regulators, and the public to curb plastic waste, particularly in the supermarket, retail, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors.
Developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders, the roadmap serves as a practical guide to align Ghana’s plastic reduction efforts across sectors.
For further information, please contact Recycle Up! Ghana.
2. A Voluntary Pact Backed by Business Action and Public Support
Eight businesses signed on to the Voluntary Pact, committing to reduce single-use plastic by 50% by 2030. Among the highlights:
The “Bag the Habit of Single-Use Plastic” campaign reached over 20 million people across Ghana through radio, TV, and billboard messaging. Be part of the solution and not the pollution!
A pilot at one supermarket chain encouraged more than 1,000 customers to switch to reusable bags, achieving a 20% bag return rate already. A strong signal of consumer readiness for change. Hence, don’t forget your reusable bag next time you shop!
For more information on the Pact, please contact Plastic Punch.
3. Business Development Programme for Circular SMEs
The initiative targeted plastic reduction at the grassroots level by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and catering sector, a key area for single-use plastic use. With guidance from Impact Footprints Africa, participating businesses began reintroducing sustainable, locally rooted practices such as wrapping waakye in leaves and replacing plastic containers with paper bags, reusable jars, and delivery crates.
For more information on the Program, please contact Impact Footprints Africa.
A Call to Action
The Go Circular Project proves that practical, scalable solutions to plastic pollution already exist in Ghana. The message from the closing event was clear:
Plastic reduction is no longer just a commitment—it’s a demonstrated path forward. Let’s keep the momentum going.
About Go Circular
The Go Circular global program supports the transition to a circular economy by scaling, innovations and building alliances in several partner countries. In Ghana, the project works closely with businesses, policymakers, and environmental groups to advance strategies for phasing down single-use plastics (SUP), including developing a roadmap, promoting circular business models, and the Voluntary Pact for SUP phasedown. The campaign also raises public awareness and highlights practical solutions for reducing plastic waste. This initiative is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
About GIZ
GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. We work with businesses, civil society actors, and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is our main commissioning party. Currently, GIZ promotes sustainable development in Ghana via about 50 programmes and projects. Our activities cover three priority areas: Energy and Climate, with a concentration on renewable energy and energy efficiency; Training and Sustainable Growth for Decent Jobs, and Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, which looks at good governance. For more information, please visit www.giz.de/ghana.
