Beyond styrofoam: Ghana must act decisively on plastic pollution

The call by the President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Professor Dr Ernest Yorke, at the 26th Annual Public Lecture organised on Friday by the GMA, for the government to extend its proposed ban on styrofoam to cover all single-use plastics deserves urgent and serious consideration.

Ghana’s plastic waste problem is no longer a distant environmental concern, it is a clear and present danger.

 From the choked gutters in Accra to flooded streets in other urban centres, the evidence is before us.

Each heavy downpour exposes the cost of our inaction, homes submerged, livelihoods disrupted and, tragically, lives sometimes lost.

It is, therefore, refreshing that a respected voice within the health sector has added momentum to what should already be a national priority.

 Prof. Yorke is right. Limiting the ban to styrofoam alone, though commendable, will only scratch the surface of a much deeper crisis.

Single-use plastics, from sachet water bags to takeaway packaging dominate our waste stream.

They are used for minutes but remain in the environment for decades.

Their indiscriminate disposal blocks drains, pollutes water bodies and creates breeding grounds for disease.

The consequences go beyond aesthetics. Poor sanitation and waste management are directly linked to public health risks.

As Prof. Yorke rightly pointed out, unsafe environmental conditions ultimately translate into unsafe living conditions.

When drains are clogged and refuse accumulates, the stage is set for outbreaks of cholera and other sanitation-related diseases.

But the issue is not merely one of banning plastics. It is about building a coherent, enforceable and sustainable waste management system.

A comprehensive policy response must, therefore, accompany any expanded ban.

The government must ensure the availability of affordable and practical alternatives. Without this, any prohibition risks being resisted or ignored by both vendors and consumers.

Also, waste collection systems must be strengthened. In many communities, disposal options remain inadequate or unreliable. Expecting citizens to act responsibly without providing the means to do so is unrealistic.

Furthermore, recycling must move from rhetoric to reality. Ghana has spoken for years about recycling, yet progress remains limited.

Incentives for private sector participation, investment in recycling infrastructure and public education campaigns are all essential.

Equally important is enforcement. Ghana has no shortage of environmental regulations; the challenge has always been implementation.

Laws must be applied consistently, and offenders must face real consequences.

We also believe that responsibility must be shared. Government cannot do it alone.

Food vendors must adopt safer packaging practices. Consumers must be more mindful of their choices and disposal habits. Manufacturers, too, must be held accountable for the lifecycle of their products.

Ultimately, this is about a shift in mindset. Convenience must no longer come at the expense of our environment and our health.

The recent floods in Accra should serve as a stark reminder that the cost of inaction is far greater than the inconvenience of change.

 Ghana cannot continue to manage plastic waste as an afterthought.

We, therefore, urge the government to heed the GMA’s call and take bold, decisive action.

Extending the ban to all single-use plastics, backed by practical measures and strong enforcement, will be a step in the right direction.

The time for half-measures has passed. Ghana must act and act now.

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