On Tuesday, March 18, Norway’s Minister of International Development, Mr. Åsmund Aukrust, paid an official visit to the headquarters of Miniplast Ltd. in Accra.
The Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana and representatives from Norfund—one of Miniplast’s key investors since 2023.
“The investment in Miniplast is a great example of how we can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously. It demonstrates how private sector initiatives can address major environmental challenges while also generating employment and empowering women—both key priorities for Norway,” stated Minister Aukrust during his visit.
Norfund’s investment has played a vital role in advancing job creation and promoting gender equality at Miniplast. Since 2023, the company has added 700 new jobs, and the proportion of female employees has increased more than threefold. All employees are hired on a permanent basis and benefit from social provisions, including a provident fund and school fee grants.
As Miniplast’s CEO, Mr. Nadim Ghanem Jr., confirmed, by the end of 2023 the company employed 980 people—909 men and 71 women. Today, that number has grown to 1,700, with more than 500 women now part of the workforce.
During their visit, the Minister and his delegation toured the factory, with particular interest in the plastic waste pre-processing operations and the recycling unit, which diverts 1,500 tons of plastic waste from the environment each month. They engaged directly with employees to learn more about the production processes and working conditions.
“Plastic recycling is essential for both the Ghanaian economy and the environment,” said Mr. Ghanem. “But it will only remain sustainable in Ghana and across Africa if it continues to be economically viable.” Miniplast exemplifies how an industrial company can generate meaningful social and environmental impact while remaining profitable.
We are deeply grateful to the Norwegian Ministry of International Development and to Norfund for their continued support. We hope Minister Aukrust and his team enjoyed their visit to Miniplast. Akwaaba—you are always welcome!
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