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News release

Ghanaians look to one another and the government to protect the environment

5 Jun 2023 Ghana
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News release
Key findings
  • Almost two-thirds (64%) of Ghanaians say pollution is a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their community (Figure 1).
  • Citizens say trash and plastic disposal (cited by 31%), sanitation or human waste management (26%), and pollution of water sources (16%) are the most important environmental issues in their community (Figure 2).
  • Fully four out of five respondents (81%) say plastic bags are a major source of pollution in Ghana (Figure 3).
  • Almost six in 10 Ghanaians (57%) say the primary responsibility for reducing pollution and keeping communities clean rests with local citizens. Far fewer would assign that responsibility to their local (21%) or national (14%) government (Figure 4).
  • Only about three in 10 citizens (29%) think the government is doing a good job of reducing pollution and protecting the environment, while a majority (66%) rate the government’s efforts poorly (Figure 5).

A majority of Ghanaians say ordinary citizens are responsible for reducing pollution and keeping their communities clean, while some place that responsibility on the local and national government, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.  

Citizens consider pollution a serious problem and cite trash disposal, sanitation, and water pollution as the most important environmental issues in their communities. Most say plastic bags are a major source of pollution. 

A majority of citizens rate the government’s performance in reducing pollution and protecting the environment as poor.