A Systems Approach to Ocean Plastics Governance in Ghana

There is conclusive evidence that unmanaged and mismanaged plastic waste continues to accumulate in the environment throughout the world, including in the ocean. While it is often feasible to clean up plastic waste polluting the terrestrial environment, removing it from the ocean remains a technical, financial, and practical challenge, making it intractable for many developing countries, particularly in Africa. In the case of Ghana, the annual projection of between 92,000 Mt and 260,000 Mt of mismanaged plastic waste leaking into the ocean for 2020 is expected to rise to more than 350,000 Mt by 2025.This present study employed a qualitative methodology, underpinned by a systems thinking approach, to examine ocean plastics from a governance perspective in Ghana. The findings reveal that ocean plastic pollution is an emerging problem in Ghana with limited national attention. It also reveals low visibility for the problem of ocean plastics in national policies, legislation, and actions. This study recommends the establishment of a Centralized Interagency Council (CIC). CIC will oversee and elevate ocean plastics as a national priority through a governance framework rooted in systems thinking and aimed at supporting an integrated and sustainable ocean plastic interventions in Ghana. Keywords: Environmental sustainability, Ghana, Governance, Ocean plastics, Plastic waste management, Systems thinking

Author dc:creator

• Naah Boamah, Sheila

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Okey, Thomas, A

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-20514

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/28951