The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has called for a change in public attitudes towards the use and disposal of single-use plastics as Ghana intensifies efforts to address environmental degradation.
She said the country’s environmental challenges could not be addressed through laws and enforcement alone, stressing the need for citizens to take personal and collective responsibility for protecting the environment.
Prof. Browne Klutse made the call during the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Paramount Chief of the Abeadze State, Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, and the Ahobaa Kese Festival 2026 at Abeadze Dominase in the Central Region.
She said Ghana continued to face growing environmental challenges, including plastic pollution, improper waste disposal, the degradation of water bodies and the increasing burden of single-use plastics.
“Today, Ghana is confronted with growing environmental challenges, including plastic pollution, improper waste disposal, the degradation of our water bodies and the increasing burden of single-use plastics,” she said.
Prof. Browne Klutse said the national campaign towards the elimination of styrofoam and other environmentally harmful single-use materials should be seen not merely as a regulatory intervention but as a broader call for behavioural change.
She explained that the objective was to encourage Ghanaians to reconsider their reliance on environmentally harmful materials and embrace more sustainable alternatives.
According to her, changing public attitudes towards single-use plastics would contribute to cleaner communities, protect drains and water bodies, improve public health and support Ghana’s sustainable development efforts.
She said the environmental consequences of improper disposal were often felt beyond the immediate communities where the waste was generated, particularly when plastics ended up in drains, rivers and other water bodies.
Prof. Browne Klutse therefore called for stronger collaboration between government institutions, traditional authorities, communities, businesses and individuals to address the problem.
She said traditional authorities had a particularly important role to play because of their influence and ability to mobilise communities around issues affecting their wellbeing.
The EPA Chief Executive reflected on traditional practices that had historically helped protect Ghana’s natural resources.
She noted that forests, water bodies, farmlands and communal spaces were traditionally regarded not only as resources but also as valuable inheritances that had to be protected for future generations.
Prof. Browne Klutse said reviving traditional values of stewardship, discipline, communal responsibility and respect for nature could complement modern environmental policies.
She urged chiefs and traditional leaders to use their influence to educate their communities on responsible waste management and the need to protect the environment.
“As the Environmental Protection Authority continues to lead and support national efforts towards stronger environmental governance, public education, pollution control and sustainable development, traditional authorities remain indispensable partners to the EPA,” she stated.
She said the fight against environmental degradation required a sustained commitment from all sectors of society and could not be left solely to environmental institutions.
Prof. Browne Klutse further urged Ghanaians to support the campaign towards the elimination of styrofoam and other harmful single-use materials by adopting environmentally sustainable alternatives.
She said the transition would require public education, cooperation and a willingness by citizens and businesses to change established practices.
The EPA CEO said protecting Ghana’s environment was a shared responsibility and called on communities to take ownership of environmental initiatives to ensure that the country’s natural heritage was preserved for generations yet unborn.
