Ghana has officially launched the Ghana Circular Economy Centre (GCEC) Project, an ambitious national initiative aimed at reshaping the country’s plastic waste sector and promoting sustainable economic growth through circular economy practices.
The project is led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and is funded by Global Affairs Canada.
The initiative seeks to transition key sectors including plastics, textiles, agriculture, and agro-processing, from a linear to a circular economic model, where waste is minimised, and materials are reused and recycled to retain value across the supply chain.
Currently, Ghana consumes over 1.1 million tonnes of plastic annually, with just 19% of waste recovered. The remainder contributes to widespread environmental issues, including clogged drains, polluted communities, and urban flooding.
However, the project highlights that plastics such as LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, and PET hold significant economic value if managed through appropriate recovery technologies and systems.
The GCEC project is built on four key pillars, which are; establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy, tchnical assistance and capacity-building, facilitating access to finance for circular enterprises and knowledge exchange and networking
Dr. Kwame Anane-Fenin of Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) emphasized the need for evidence-based solutions that identify actionable opportunities across the plastics value chain.
He noted that building sustainable businesses requires understanding “who can act, where opportunities lie, and how value can be recovered.”
Project Coordinator Dr. Daniel Ofori called the validation workshop a “critical milestone,” noting that while plastics remain necessary in certain sectors, alternatives must be pursued where possible, and innovative recovery systems must be built for what remains.
Mr. Joseph Yeboah of UNIDO said the five-year GCEC project will uncover value leakage, mobilize private investment, and support women, youth, and informal sector entrepreneurs with skills and opportunities in circular businesses.
Prof. Christopher Mensah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University (HTU), stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and national ownership.
He assured that HTU, the host institution, is committed to fully delivering on its mandate.
According to the project brief, GCEC aims to: validate 200 circular technologies and business models, train 2,000 small-scale entrepreneurs, mobilize $10 million in private capital, deliver a national plastics circularity roadmap, and support Ghana’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement
Nonetheless, Key recommendations included investing in decentralised plastic aggregation hubs in underserved areas, enforcing product standards, and promoting eco-design to make recycling more effective.
