The Minister-designate for Environment, Science, and Technology, Murtala Muhammed, has stated that banning the importation of plastic bags in Ghana is not a feasible solution at this time.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 30, Murtala Muhammed emphasized the need for comprehensive dialogue on plastic waste management and the development of sustainable alternatives to address the issue.
“You don’t just ban because there’s a challenge. You need to identify alternatives. Without alternatives, a ban could have dire consequences,” he explained.
Expressing concern over the indiscriminate disposal of plastics, he advocated for a strategic and phased approach, drawing lessons from other countries.
“What I think we should do is conduct a comprehensive study on the issue, identify viable alternatives, and support domestic industries to produce reusable containers and biodegradable packaging,” he noted.
Using Rwanda as an example, he emphasized that their plastic bag ban was preceded by the introduction of sustainable alternatives and the stabilization of systems to ensure a smooth transition.
“Rwanda didn’t just ban plastics; they provided alternatives and stabilized the system before implementing the ban. That’s the approach I would take,” he added.
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