Rwanda didn’t just ban plastics, they stabilized the system first – Murtala Muhammed

The issue of plastic pollution remains a major environmental challenge in Ghana, with clogged drains, littered streets, and polluted water bodies highlighting the need for urgent action.

While some have called for a complete ban on plastic bags, Minister-designate for Environment, Science, and Technology, Murtala Muhammed, believes such a move would be ineffective without viable alternatives.

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 30, he stressed the importance of a well-planned approach rather than an outright ban.

“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 to ban, the consequences will be dire,” he said.

Plastic waste management has been a growing concern in Ghana, where the increasing use of single-use plastics has led to severe environmental and health hazards.

Several African countries, including Rwanda and Kenya, have successfully banned plastic bags, but their success came with structured alternatives such as biodegradable packaging and incentives for local industries.

Recognizing this, Murtala Muhammed called for a comprehensive study to explore sustainable solutions.

“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,” he explained.

He pointed to Rwanda as an example of how a country can phase out plastics without causing economic disruption.

“And these are the things other countries have done. Rwanda didn’t just ban, they came up with some of these things. They stabilized the system before banning it. So I think that is what I will do,” he added.

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