Students from the Institute of Journalism Campus of the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniMAC-GIJ) will converge at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s Omanye Aba Hall on Saturday, March 22, 2025, to propose freshUniMAC students unite against single use plastics innovative solutions against single-use plastics menace in the country.
On the theme; The lobby: Navigating digital influence for policy change,” the event marks the climax of the semester’s digital lobbying campaign meant to educate and encourage the use of reusable alternatives instead of the nonbiodegradable plastics that has become an environmental menace after their use.
Information sourced from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that around the world including Ghana, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes – used just once and then thrown away. The management of plastic waste has become a significant environmental and social issue causing problems like climate change and biodiversity loss.
Plastics menace also leads to many health problems like asthma and cancer in people.
It was for this reason why students have over the last few weeks engaged policymakers, experts, and the general public to demand stricter regulations and viable alternatives to single use plastics via the digital space.
The experts and stakeholders on the X space under the hashtag #BanSingleUsePlasticsGH made a firm commitment to support the agenda for a ban on single use plastics.
Sustained action
A seasoned Communications Specialist, Peter Martey Agbeko, stated that Ghana must take bold, deliberate, and sustained action to win the fight against single use plastics.
“Ghana stands at a crossroads in its fight against plastic pollution. By adopting the Rwandan model, particularly by banning plastics at entry points like the airport, the nation can take a significant step towards a cleaner, healthier environment,” he said.
However, he said this must be part of a broader strategy that includes legislation, education, infrastructure development, and private sector engagement.
“It is time for bold action. The plastic menace will not resolve itself, and delaying decisive measures will only worsen the problem. Ghana has an opportunity to lead by example in West Africa, proving that with commitment and collaboration, a plastic-free future is within reach,” he added.
Alarming shift
A lecturer at the Department of Marine & Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Dr. Andrews Agyekumhene, said there was alarming shift of plastic waste from a mere nuisance to an environmental catastrophe
He said the dire consequences of unchecked plastic waste on marine biodiversity, human health, and ecosystems.
Dr. Agyekumhene said there was a pressing need for stringent policies and sustainable alternatives to curb the escalating threat of plastic pollution.
He said with Ghana’s coastal and marine life facing unprecedented risks, the call to ban single use plastics gains greater urgency.
Recycling not an option
The Campaign Lead at Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM), Samuel Duah, said recycling plastics was not an option because it costs more to recycle than to produce new ones.
He urged Ghanaians to support the ban against single use plastics by signing the petition against the menace.
“We must all get involved to help save the planet from these plastics that are used for less than 12 minutes, but they last on the planet for hundreds of years,” he said.
The campaign
The campaign is spearheaded by Level 400 public relations (PR) and marketing students offering Government Relations and Public Affairs course.
This initiative aligns with the growing global concern to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable environmental practices.
It seeks to create awareness and advocate for stronger policy action against single-use plastics in the country.
