The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Michael Ayamga, has called for any future legislation aimed at tackling plastic pollution in Ghana to be named after the late Environment Minister, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.

According to him, such recognition would preserve the memory of Dr Murtala Mohammed’s commitment to addressing Ghana’s plastic waste challenge and his efforts toward developing stronger environmental policies.

Prof. Ayamga said the late minister was deeply passionate about the global fight against plastic pollution and played a key role in Ghana’s participation in international negotiations towards a legally binding plastics treaty.

“One of the things Murtala was very passionate about was our plastic problem. So one of the things he did was to forcefully put me into the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee team that was working at the UN to bring about some legislation on controlling plastics,” he said.

He noted that Dr Murtala Mohammed also championed efforts domestically to address plastic waste and promote policies aimed at reducing environmental damage caused by plastics.

Prof. Ayamga therefore appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and other stakeholders to consider naming Ghana’s eventual plastics legislation after the late minister.

“I would want to make a direct appeal to His Excellency and to everybody that matters that if we finally make that legislation on plastics in Ghana, I would want to suggest that we name that legislation after the late Dr Murtala Mohammed,” he said.

He said such a move would ensure that the values and environmental goals pursued by the former minister continue to influence future generations.

“Let at least what he worked for passionately live across generations,” he added.

Prof. Ayamga described ending plastic pollution, particularly single-use plastics, as one of the causes that defined Dr Murtala Mohammed’s work in public service.

Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, died alongside seven others in the August 6, 2025 Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.