By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, Oct. 27, GNA – Odorgonno Senior High School (SHS) on Friday emerged winners of the 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards organised among five SHSs in Accra on plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received GHS8,000 cash prize after securing 97 points, followed by Accra Senior High School coming second with 96 points and receiving GHS4,000, and third placed O’Reilly SHS with 90 points receiving GHS2,000.
The rest were fourth placed Forces Senior High Technical School with 83 points and fifth placed St John’s Grammar SHS 72 points, both receiving GHS1,000 as cash prizes.
There was also the recognition of outstanding students from the school clubs who were awarded gold medals and certificates, with St John’s Grammar SHS receiving five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest recovered plastic wastes.
The competition was organised by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) in collaboration with OmniBSIC Bank and Ocean Tribe at the Odorgonno SHS premises in Accra.
It formed part of CSIR-IIR’s Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
It included education campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation in the schools, an educational excursion to the Miniplast recycling factory, and the Plastics Challenge, which encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges, while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools could generate income from recovered materials, they support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi said within the first month following the schools education and cage installation, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes (1,500 kilograms) of plastic waste equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools demonstrating that plastic waste can become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
“Our before-and-after research evaluation also revealed a 37.1 per cent increase in students’ perception that their schools support plastic source segregation and a 22.2 per cent improvement in recycling and plastic-reduction behaviours,” he added.
Mr Dominic Donkoh, Group Head, General Operations of OmniBSIC Bank, urged participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection, and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives, while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting, and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
Miss Eva Arthur, a participating student from Odorgonno SHS, said the project had opened her up to opportunities within the plastic waste value-chain which she would pursue even after school.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Jesse Ampah Owusu