Alternatives to Plastic Must be Found Before Ban, Murtala Mohamed Insists
Accra, Ghana - 30 Jan, 2025 - Ghana's Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Murtala Muhammed, has cautioned against a blanket ban on plastic bags, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach to address the country's plastic waste challenges.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 30, Muhammed stressed that banning plastic bags without viable alternatives in place could have severe consequences. Instead, he proposed a comprehensive study to identify sustainable alternatives, such as reusable containers and biodegradable packaging.
Muhammed cited Rwanda as a model for effective plastic waste management, highlighting how the country developed alternatives before implementing a ban. He expressed his intention to adopt a similar approach in Ghana, prioritizing a strategic and phased approach to address the issue.
“You don’t just ban because there’s a challenge, you need to be looking for alternatives. So if you don’t have alternatives and you go ahead with to ban, the consequences will be dire.
“What I think I will do is let’s have a comprehensive study on the issue. And find out the alternatives, and how we support our domestic industry to come out with, if you like, reusable containers, and biodegradable packaging.
“And these are the things other countries have done. Rwanda didn’t just ban, they came up with some of these things. They stabilised the system before banning it. So I think that is what I will do,'' he added.
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has already initiated efforts to reduce plastic waste in Ghana. In 2025, the ministry plans to implement Phase II of a plastic reduction project, which includes pilot tests on plastic-free schools, water vending machines, and edible and compostable packaging.
Source: Lead News Online
