This follows the end of the implementation of the three-year Go Circular Project, in Accra.

Implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project has demonstrated that plastic waste reduction is already underway in Ghana.

The closing ceremony, held on June 19, brought together representatives from government, the private sector, and civil society, as well as project partners.

They include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), Recycle Up! Ghana, Plastic Punch and Impact Footprints Africa.

The Go Circular Project leaves behind practical, scalable tools, including a national roadmap, a voluntary business pact, and a business development programme tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Together, these tools form a model for coordinated action against plastic pollution in the country.

One of the project's key achievements is the development of the Roadmap to phase down Single-Use Plastics, according to the stakeholders.

Created in consultation with these key stakeholders, the roadmap outlined sector-specific actions to be undertaken by businesses, regulators, and the public.

It focuses on high-impact areas such as supermarkets, retail, hospitality, and the food and beverage industries, offering practical measures to align efforts across sectors and reduce plastic waste.

Another major outcome was the Voluntary Pact signed by eight businesses committing to reduce SUP usage by 50 per cent by 2030.

The pact was supported by a public campaign themed: "Bag the Habit of Single-Use Plastic," which reached more than 20 million Ghanaians through radio, television, and billboard messaging.

As part of the campaign, a pilot conducted at a participating supermarket chain encouraged more than 1,000 shoppers to use reusable bags, recording a 20 per cent return rate - a clear signal of growing consumer readiness for change.

At the grassroots level, the project supported SMEs in the food and catering sector, a key area of single-use plastic use.

With guidance from Impact Footprints Africa, participating businesses began reintroducing environmentally friendly practices, such as wrapping traditional waakye in leaves and replacing plastic containers with paper bags, reusable jars, and delivery crates.

"The success of the Go Circular Project highlights that Ghana already possesses viable solutions to plastic pollution," they noted.Stakeholders at the closing ceremony called for these initiatives to be scaled up across the country, noting that plastic reduction is no longer a distant goal but a proven, achievable path forward.

They urged both public and private actors to sustain the momentum and expand the impact.

The Go Circular initiative is part of a global programme that promotes the transition to a circular economy through innovation, partnerships, and public awareness.

In Ghana, the project advanced the national strategy to phase down SUPs, supported sustainable business models, and built alliances to combat plastic waste.

GIZ, the implementing agency, has operated in Ghana for more than 50 years, managing about 50 development programmes focused on energy and climate, job creation, and good governance.

With plastic pollution posing a serious threat to Ghana's environment, health, and economy, the success of the Go Circular Project marks a pivotal step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, the stakeholders noted.