Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for increased investment in the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop biological alternatives to conventional plastics as part of measures to address Ghana’s growing plastic waste problem.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the country should channel more resources into research on plant-based materials that can be used to manufacture biodegradable plastic substitutes.
She identified materials such as hemp and cassava as potential raw materials for producing alternatives that can decompose more easily and minimise their long-term impact on the environment.
“I believe that there’s a policy on plastic waste that we have as a country, and that is supposed to encompass how we plan to address this. The briefing that I did receive is one of the key things that is to happen within the next six months is the ban on polystyrene and at some point also single-use plastic,” she said.
“What I believe can be done in addition to this is to channel some funding towards the CSIR, so that they can actually look into biological alternatives, for example hemp and cassava. We have a lot of plant produce that can be used to make plastic alternatives which can break down and don’t actually persevere in the environment,” she added.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said supporting scientific research should form part of the broader strategy to tackle plastic pollution, alongside regulatory measures already being considered.
She noted that the planned ban on polystyrene products, as well as future restrictions on single-use plastics, could be strengthened by developing locally produced and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Her proposal places research and innovation at the centre of efforts to reduce plastic pollution while creating opportunities to utilise Ghana’s agricultural resources in developing sustainable products.
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