By Charles S. Amponsah
A Research Scientist at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) and principal investigator for the Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) project, Dr. Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante, says waste should no longer be seen as a nuisance but as a major resource that can drive climate action and economic growth.
“When it comes to waste, there’s been a couple of works we’ve done, and in fact we see that waste is a major resource that we often ignore,” Dr. Asante said in an interview on the sidelines of a workshop in Accra to train selected journalists.
The initiative forms part of the ACE4ES project, which integrates agroecology and circular economy principles to improve productivity while protecting the environment.
The workshop, themed “Strategic Media Programming for Agroecology, Circular Economy, and Climate Change Communication,” was jointly organised by CSIR-CRI and the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
Globally, waste pollution remains one of the biggest environmental challenges. The World Bank estimates that the world generates more than two billion tonnes of solid waste each year, with about a third of it mismanaged through open dumping or burning, practices that release black carbon and other greenhouse gases. Across Africa, poor waste management contributes to blocked drains, flooding, and land degradation.
Ghana faces similar problems, but researchers believe change is possible through innovation and circular economy practices. Dr. Asante said the CSIR’s Multicultural Technology Park is pioneering ways to convert different types of waste into useful products rather than burning them.
“We have shown how our Technology Park is working seriously to convert different waste products into commodities so that instead of burning to produce black carbon, we can rather convert the waste into income-generating products like briquettes, biochar, compost, black soldier fly protein, and organic fertilisers,” he explained.
Dr. Asante believes that with the right innovation and mindset, waste can become a key driver of climate resilience and economic opportunity rather than an environmental burden.
“So there are so many things we can do with our waste. When properly managed, waste is not a problem but a resource for climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods,” Dr. Asante said.
