Ghana’s Floods: Why a Circular Economy is the Secret to Saving Lives
On 29 June 2026, a devastating flood swept through Accra, Ghana, killing at least 12 people and displacing hundreds more. The city's residents are no strangers to flooding, having experienced it almost every year since 1935.
The Silent Killer: Plastic Waste in Ghana's Floods
Rain is not the sole cause of flooding in Accra; rapid urban growth, undersized and unmaintained drainage, building in flood-prone land, the paving-over of natural water-retention spaces, and weak management of solid waste all play a significant role. The World Economic Forum's Global Plastic Action Partnership reports that Ghana generates about 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 9.5% collected for recycling.
The statistics are staggering: mishandled plastic costs Ghana around $100 million each year, and analysts predict that plastic leakage into the country's water bodies could nearly triple between 2020 and 2040 if nothing changes. It is no wonder that the World Bank's Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID) has prioritized fixing solid-waste management alongside improving drainage.
A Circular Economy: The Key to Flood Prevention
Ghana's slow shift towards a circular economy is an environmental abstraction that holds the key to flood control. By designing waste out of daily life and turning what remains into something of value, the country can prevent flooding. A circular economy rests on three ideas: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, and regenerating natural systems rather than exhausting them.
In Ghana's case, this means cutting avoidable single-use packaging and backing reusable alternatives. Manufacturers must design products that can be collected, repaired, or recycled instead of thrown away after one use. Producers must share responsibility for what becomes of their packaging once it leaves the shelf.
The Power of Systems: Collecting and Recycling in Ghana
Circularity cannot rely on telling people not to litter; it requires systems that people can rely on. Households and businesses need practical ways to separate plastics, organics, and residual waste. Communities require collection points they can access, while municipal authorities need the trucks, financing, and partnerships to collect consistently. Recyclers need a predictable supply of properly sorted material to stay in business.
Ghana's informal waste workers are central to this effort, not incidental. More than 2,000 waste pickers already comb through the city's waste, collecting materials that could be turned into valuable resources. With the right systems in place, these workers could become the backbone of Ghana's circular economy.
A New Approach to Flood Prevention
The floods in Accra are a wake-up call for the country to adopt a circular economy. By designing waste out of daily life and turning what remains into something of value, Ghana can prevent flooding and protect its citizens. It is time for the country to shift its focus from treating waste as a byproduct of consumption to seeing it as a valuable resource. The consequences of inaction are clear: continued flooding, environmental degradation, and economic losses. But with a circular economy, Ghana can build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Source: Joy Online
