Advancing the transition to circular economy in Ghana: Prospects and challenges

The circular economy (CE) concept has gained momentum as an innovative solution to address the unsustainable use of natural resources, environmentally harmful business models, and the growing sustainable development challenges in the world. This paper examines Ghana's transition to CE by exploring drivers, prospects, and challenges, and proposing policy recommendations for scaling up CE adoption. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining desk reviews of existing literature and policy documents, key informant interviews with stakeholders, and institutional analysis of Ghana's policy and regulatory framework. The findings reveal that Ghana's CE transition is driven by factors like government commitment, resource scarcity, waste management issues, economic opportunities, environmental concerns, stakeholder collaboration, and international development policies. The prospects for CE adoption in Ghana are promising and include improving economic growth, resource efficiency, climate change mitigation, improved waste management, agricultural sustainability, and significant social benefits. However, a number of challenges need to be addressed to position Ghana as a regional CE leader and reap economic, social, and environmental benefits.