Go Circular Ghana aimed to reduce the prevalence of single-use plastics (SUPs)
After three years of targeted action against plastic waste, the Go Circular Ghana project has officially wrapped up.
The project, implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), brought together key players from government, business, and civil society in a final event that celebrated the initiative’s achievements and called for scale-up.
This marks a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to combat plastic pollution and transition toward a circular economy.
From its inception, Go Circular Ghana aimed to reduce the prevalence of single-use plastics (SUPs) and strengthen sustainable practices.
At the project’s close, stakeholders emphasized that its impact speaks louder than intentions.
“Reducing plastic waste is not only possible, but also already happening,” organisers said in a statement. “The project leaves behind scalable tools, business innovations, and cross-sector partnerships that now call for broader adoption.”
The project consisted of three flagship interventions designed to address plastic pollution through both policy and grassroots action.
A detailed Roadmap to Phase Down Single-Use Plastics was developed. The roadmap, which focused on the supermarket, retail, hospitality, and food and beverage industries, was created through close consultation with stakeholders.
“It serves as a practical guide to align Ghana’s plastic reduction efforts across sectors,” the statement explained.
Additionally, the project included a Voluntary Pact, signed by eight businesses, pledging to cut their single-use plastic use by half by 2030. Among the pact’s successes was a massive national media campaign dubbed “Bag the Habit of Single-Use Plastic,” which reached over 20 million Ghanaians through radio, TV, and billboards with the slogan: “Be part of the solution and not the pollution!”
“A pilot at one supermarket chain encouraged more than 1,000 customers to switch to reusable bags,” organisers noted, citing a 20% bag return rate as a sign of growing consumer readiness.
The project also launched a Business Development Programme for SMEs in the food and catering sector.
Through collaboration with Impact Footprints Africa, businesses were supported to adopt more sustainable, culturally rooted alternatives, including the packaging of foods.
“This initiative targeted plastic reduction at the grassroots level,” the project team said, adding that it encouraged a return to local, low-waste practices.
While the project’s conclusion marks the end of one chapter, stakeholders insist the work must continue.
“Plastic reduction is no longer just a commitment, it’s a demonstrated path forward,” the statement read. “Let’s keep the momentum going.”
About Go Circular
The Go Circular program is a global effort supporting partner countries to adopt circular economy practices by scaling innovations and building partnerships.
In Ghana, the focus has been on reducing single-use plastics through policy development, public awareness campaigns, and business collaboration.
Implemented by GIZ, the project forms part of Germany’s broader development cooperation strategy in Ghana, which spans over 50 programs addressing energy, job creation, climate resilience, and governance.
ID/MA
