Ghana’s e-waste and plastics sector: opportunities and challenges for SMEs

On 11 February 2021, SNV’s Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project hosted a webinar to discuss and validate findings for a market analysis of Ghana’s e-waste and plastics sectors.
About the GrEEn project
The Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project is a four-year action from the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The project aims at creating greater economic and employment opportunities for youth, women and returning migrants by promoting and supporting sustainable, green businesses in two selected regions in Ghana: Ashanti and Western.
GrEEn is implemented under the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa with a total contribution of EUR 20,600,000.
About the webinar
With general improvements in living standards in both urban and rural communities in Ghana, consumption of electronic and plastic products has increased. However, management of waste generated by these products is a huge challenge.
Recently, the GrEEn project commissioned a research project to conduct a market analysis of Ghana’s e-waste and plastics sectors, assessing opportunities and challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The analysis, among others, sought to investigate the following:
The size, opportunities and challenges in the e-waste and plastic sectors, especially in the Ashanti and Western regions
The level of informality of the sector and implications of that for job creation and enterprise promotion
Opportunities for SMEs in entering the markets and growing within the sectors as well as along the value chains
Available opportunities for youth and women to be engaged in the e-waste and plastics sectors, either as entrepreneurs or as employees of SMEs within the field
Existing business models and case studies that can be replicated and upscaled by the project.
Objectives of the webinar
To present the findings of the study to respondents and other participants for feedback and validation.
To share key lessons from the survey with service providers and policymakers to improve service provision
To introduce the GrEEn Project and promote the growth of Ghana’s circular economy to a broad range of relevant stakeholders
Target audience
Public sector/government institutions at the national and sub-national level
Financial service providers
Incubation and acceleration hubs
Respondents/contributors to the study
Business membership organisations
Technical training service providers
Individual/freelance consultants, coaches and mentors

Click on the image to download the webinar presentation