The organisation said simple, practical interventions could drastically reduce plastic waste, which continues to clog drains, pollute water bodies and worsen flooding in urban centres.

Professor Douglas Boateng, Chairman of the GCI Board of Trustees, made the call at the inauguration of the Board in Accra.

“Why can’t we do that in Ghana? At the airport, these plastic wrappers should be left there. You don’t need a policeman; just put a sign and provide the bins. This is common sense,” he said.

Prof. Boateng stressed that plastic waste management required not only policy direction but also a shift in public mindset and collective responsibility.

“Environmental neglect is violence that arrives quietly but remains for generations,” he warned, adding: “We can’t drink gold. We can’t chew gold. We need water to survive.”

The GCI cautioned that Ghana risked worsening environmental conditions if urgent action was not taken to address pollution and enforce regulations.

Prof. Boateng noted that leadership must be judged by what is preserved for future generations rather than immediate gains.

“The true test is what we choose to leave behind,” he said.

Prof. De?Graft Owusu?Manu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GCI, said the organisation aimed to become a leading eco?solutions centre in Africa, advancing sustainable development across the continent.

“We are thinking green, acting green and doing green. Green is our future,” he said.

The GCI works with governments, industry and communities to promote sustainable development through research, policy support and community?based interventions, providing evidence?based solutions on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance.