By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, Dec. 6, GNA — The Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) on Friday hosted the inaugural Ghana Plastics Leadership Awards in Accra to recognise institutions and individuals making notable contributions to tackling plastic pollution.
The awards, held on the theme: “Driving Change, Shaping the Future: Ghana’s Plastic Action Story,” celebrated actors whose work has expanded recycling systems, influenced policy, boosted community action and advanced national efforts to reduce plastic waste.
Fifteen winners were honoured across multiple categories.
Plastic Punch received the Outstanding Contribution to Plastic Reduction/Reuse Award and also the Behaviour Change Leader Award.
The Outstanding Contribution to Plastic Collection Award went to Asase Foundation, while Mohinani was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to Recycling Infrastructure.
The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), SESA Recycling, and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LadMA) jointly won the Community Impact Champion Award.
The Exceptional Youth Champions Award went to the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM).
In the area of social inclusion, Madam Cordie Aziz and Dr Owusu Boampong were named Gender and Social Inclusion Leaders, while Mckingtorch Africa received the Plastic Creative Innovation Award.
Madam Lydia Bamfo, a waste picker, was honoured with the Circular Economy Champion Award (Informal Sector Excellence), while Impact Footprints won the Circular Economy Incubator/Accelerator Leader Award.
The Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) of the University of Ghana received the award for Excellence in Plastic Circularity Research, while the University of Cape Coast’s Centre for Coastal Management (ACECoR) was named Outstanding Academic Institution in Plastics Leadership.
Mr Oliver Boachie, a former Special Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, received the Policy Impact Award, while the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology (MEST) was honoured with the Public Sector Honorary Award.
Mr Nii Noi Kofi Omaboe, NPAP Project Manager, said the awards demonstrated the collective progress being made to shift Ghana from “a linear disposable plastic culture to a circular one where materials are valued and reused.”
He said Ghana’s plastic action efforts were now “coordinated, collaborative and hopeful,” crediting the National Plastic Management Policy and the NPAP Action Roadmap with mobilising ministries, businesses, academia and civil society.
Mr Seidu Issifu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, in a statement delivered on his behalf, reaffirmed government’s commitment to “building a modern circular economy that creates jobs and safeguards the planet.”
He said Ghana’s preparation for a phased reduction and elimination of single-use plastics was guided by a lifecycle approach to plastic management.
“Policy alone is not enough; people must bring these policies to life,” he said.
NPAP, established in 2019 through a partnership between the Government of Ghana and the World Economic Forum, now works with more than 120 partners across government, industry, civil society and international organisations.
Its mandate includes coordinating national efforts, generating insights and scaling solutions that strengthen circularity.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe