Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Minister‑designate for Environment, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman‑Rawlings, pledged to channel funding to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to advance research into biodegradable alternatives to plastics using crops such as cassava and hemp.
She emphasised that Ghana possesses abundant plant‑based raw materials capable of supporting a new industry for sustainable packaging, rather than relying solely on bans, restrictions, and enforcement to address plastic waste. Dr. Agyeman‑Rawlings explained that the proposed research would identify locally available materials suitable for producing eco‑friendly substitutes for conventional plastics.
“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, for example, cassava,” she told the committee. She added that Ghana’s diverse agricultural output could be harnessed to create plastic alternatives that biodegrade naturally and do not persist in the environment. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings was responding to questions from the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, about Ghana’s plastic waste problem.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings expressed her deep concern about plastic waste, stating that it is an issue she personally cares about. Her proposal comes as the government is preparing to phase out polystyrene and other single-use plastics. A ban on polystyrene, which is commonly used in Ghana for food packaging, is expected within the next six months. She mentioned that officials from the sector have already updated her on the plastic waste policy, which also includes plans for a broader ban on single-use plastics.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings emphasised that this ban and the search for alternatives are part of a comprehensive approach to plastic and waste management, requiring an “all-of-government, all-of-society” effort. In response to concerns about landfill contamination raised during her vetting, she called for landfill sites to have non-permeable bases to prevent toxic leachate from seeping into groundwater.
Additionally, she advocated for waste segregation to begin at the household and school levels to facilitate composting and recycling.
