Ghana

The manufacturing sector is acknowledged as a major source of environmental problems, accounting for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous waste generation. Needed improvements include more efficient use of raw materials, energy and water in industry; adoption of cleaner production technologies and manufacturing processes; and strengthened regulatory capacity to enforce environmental regulations and effectively monitor manufacturing processes.

The tourism sector has high job creation and revenue generation potential. Strategies for achieving the policy objective of developing the industry include promoting sustainable and responsible tourism and developing standards for ecotourism and measures to preserve cultural and historical sites.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) involved in SWITCH Africa Green projects in Ghana benefit from technical advice on eco-innovation and aspects of sustainable consumption and production, such as resource efficiency, integrated waste management, energy efficiency and industrial symbiosis, as well as general business advice on management, including financial management.

Projects

Completed Agriculture
Promoting eco-entrepreneurship in Africa

The greatest challenges facing eco-enterprises are a lack of access to knowledge, networks, financing and high-quality business development services and poor enabling conditions, including a shortage of skilled people at the community level.

Completed Agriculture
Improved institutional biomass cook stoves and ovens for small and medium-scale agro-processing industries in Ghana (renewable energy project)

Currently, Ghana has a wide range of traditional agriculture production that makes a major contribution to food security and livelihoods in rural areas, including production of shea nuts, palm kernels, peanuts, seeds and cassava. These products are processed using thermal energy before being consumed or traded.

Ongoing Integrated Waste Management
E-waste management in Ghana (E-MAGIN Ghana): From cradle to grave

Fuelled by the accelerated pace of digitalization and the rise of a global middle class, the market for electrical and electronic equipment is expanding rapidly, and with it the production of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste). In Ghana, the vast majority of e-waste is managed under poor environmental, health and safety conditions.

Completed Integrated Waste Management
One-stop business and policy centre for the establishment of eco-innovative MSMEs and supporting policies in the e-waste and end-of-life vehicle sector (ECOBPC)

Volumes of e-waste and end-of-life vehicles (ELV) in Ghana are increasing by about 49 million tons per year due to a growing population, and in particular due to changing lifestyles, as well as to imports of e-waste and ELV.

Completed Integrated Waste Management
Promotion of biogas technologies

In Ghana, 95% of the population depends on on-site, stand-alone treatment systems to meet their sanitation needs. The contents of such sanitation facilities, whether domestic, industrial or in the hospitality sector, are rich in methane gas, but are disposed of indiscriminately in the open air, with all the attendant public health implications. 

Completed Integrated Waste Management
Hanisa e-waste model (HEMOD)

Ghana generates over 150,000 tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, or e-waste) annually. This is in addition to end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment imported into the country.

Completed Manufacturing
Enhancing the resource productivity and environmental performance of MSMEs in 6 African countries through the concept of industrial symbiosis

The problem of the collection, management and disposal of waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities across African countries. This has led to contamination of water bodies and to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health hazards.

SWITCH-Africa Green Programme is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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