West Africa Bets on Circular Economy Amid Growing Waste Crisis

Accra, Ghana — In an effort to address one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges, a three-day subregional workshop on waste management and the circular economy opened this week in Accra. The event was organized by the United Nations Office of Sustainable Development (UNOSD) in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, bringing together government officials, international agencies, and civil society representatives from 12 West African countries.

The workshop, held under the theme “Bridging data gaps, enhancing technical capacity, and facilitating evidence-based policymaking to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” highlighted the urgent need to overhaul waste management systems. The World Bank has previously warned that without decisive action, West Africa could become the world’s largest source of mismanaged plastic waste by 2060.

Representatives from the international human rights agency West Support also participated in the event. Our delegates held discussions with UNOSD Head Chun Kyoo Park and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ghana Shaima Hussein, focusing on practical cases in waste management and exploring opportunities for regional collaboration.

“These discussions are about more than just reducing waste,” said one West Support representative. “They are about good governance, equity, and ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind as we transition to a circular economy.”

West Support contributed to the policy dialogue across several key areas, including improving waste data collection and monitoring systems, strengthening inter-ministerial coordination, and promoting public-private partnerships. Together with UNOSD and UNDP, the agency developed a set of conceptual frameworks that will be supported in the coming months, aimed at translating regional commitments into actionable solutions at the community level.

The workshop also featured the announcement of Ghana’s new role as the West Africa Regional Hub for Policy Support on Waste Management and Resource Circularity. Ghana’s Minister of Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasized that waste management is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of public health, economic resilience, and climate action.

For West Support, the Accra workshop provided a valuable platform to deepen collaboration with UN agencies and regional governments. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting evidence-based policymaking while ensuring that waste management strategies advance social justice and human rights.

As 2030 approaches, participants agreed that regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing are essential for success. For West Support, the Accra workshop was more than a technical forum — it served as a clear example of how international human rights organizations can work hand in hand with the UN system to turn policy intentions into tangible change.

Dr. Oleksandr Havryshuk

CEO, West Support