Accra:Odorgonno Senior High School (SHS) emerged victorious in the 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards held in Accra. The competition, which focused on plastic waste recycling and reuse, involved five SHSs in the city.
According to Ghana News Agency, Odorgonno SHS secured first place with 97 points, earning a cash prize of GHS8,000. Accra Senior High School followed closely in second place with 96 points, receiving GHS4,000, while O'Reilly SHS took third place with 90 points, earning GHS2,000. Forces Senior High Technical School and St John's Grammar SHS were awarded GHS1,000 each for their fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively.
The event also recognized outstanding students from the school clubs with gold medals and certificates. St John's Grammar SHS was awarded five plastic recovery cages for achieving the highest plastic waste recovery. The awards were organized by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) in collaboration with OmniBSIC Bank and Ocean Tribe, forming part of the CSIR-IIR's Schools Plastics Recovery Project.
Dr. Boniface Yeboah Antwi, Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, highlighted the project's success in demonstrating the potential for young people to tackle Ghana's environmental challenges while generating financial incentives. The initiative included education campaigns, provision of metal cages for plastic segregation, and an excursion to the Miniplast recycling factory.
Dr. Antwi noted that the project resulted in the recovery of 1.5 tonnes of plastic waste, generating GHS2,000 in revenue. Additionally, research showed a significant increase in student support for plastic segregation and improved recycling behaviors.
Mr. Dominic Donkoh from OmniBSIC Bank encouraged schools to continue their waste segregation efforts to support environmental clubs and initiatives, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy gained through the project. Miss Eva Arthur, a student from Odorgonno SHS, expressed her enthusiasm for pursuing opportunities in the plastic waste value-chain post-graduation.