Accra’s Marriott Hotel buzzed on 4 December as Ghana’s National Plastic Action Partnership hosted the inaugural Plastics Leadership Awards, bringing together policymakers, recyclers and waste‑pickers to celebrate circular‑economy milestones.

The ceremony, themed “Driving Change, Shaping the Future: Ghana’s Plastic Action Story”, highlighted innovators turning plastic waste into value. Veteran waste‑picker Lydia Bamfo received the Circular Economy Champion (Informal Sector Excellence) Award, underscoring the vital role of grassroots actors.

‘The awards underscore the power of grassroots action,’ said Dr. Kwame Mensah, NPAP coordinator. He added that recognising informal collectors helps embed social protection in national waste‑management policies.

Entrepreneurial firms also shone. Mckingtorch Africa was honoured with the Plastic Creative Innovation Award for its cutting‑edge recycling technologies that convert discarded plastics into market‑ready products.

Other winners included Plastic Punch for plastic‑reduction initiatives, Asase Foundation for collection efforts, Mohinani for recycling infrastructure, and the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement for outstanding youth leadership.

Since its 2019 launch under the Global Plastic Action Partnership, NPAP has delivered a National Plastic Action Roadmap, a financing roadmap and standards for recycled PET. In 2025 the partnership completed a national assessment of the informal sector and opened a funding window for SMEs scaling circular solutions.

Analysts say the awards could catalyse further investment. ‘By bringing together the entire value chain, the event creates a platform for public‑private partnerships,’ noted Ama Agyeman, senior analyst at the Centre for Sustainable Development.

Looking ahead, NPAP plans to expand its financing mechanisms and deepen social‑inclusion measures, aiming to generate jobs, reduce pollution and position Ghana as a regional leader in plastic circularity.

The inaugural Plastics Leadership Awards thus signal Ghana’s firm commitment to turning plastic waste into a resource, offering a blueprint for other African nations eager to build resilient, inclusive circular economies.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE