Towards Developing a Green Manufacturing Environment: What is Ghana doing?

Abstract

Developed nations embarked on massive industrialization through manufacturing in order to reap the benefits that accompany this developmental strategy. Nations of the developing world are also adopting similar strategies to make the most of their natural resources. Realizing the negative effects of manufacturing on the environment and human lives, nations have began upgrading their manufacturing methods through the adoption of eco-friendly processes. This article intends to throw light on what the developing nation of Ghana has been doing to mitigate the effects of conventional methods of manufacturing on the environment and on human lives. The article presents the relationship between manufacturing and the environment within which manufacturing take place. It also presents some environmental challenges encountered in manufacturing sector in Ghana, as well as steps that are taken to minimize and/or prevent them. The article again presents efforts that have been taken towards integrating green practices in the manufacturing industry in Ghana, through the collaboration between the country and other international stakeholders. The literature on what Ghana is doing to create green manufacturing environment lacks empirical approach to come to a verified conclusion, hence the need to carry out future studies which is empirically based. Other gaps are also presented in the article, and what can be done to fill these gaps is also presented.