Green waste-to-biogas in Ghana’s urban markets: A comprehensive review of energy potential, opportunities, challenges, and policy frameworks

Abstract

Ghana, a developing nation, faces the dual crises of a persistent energy deficit and rapidly escalating municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The country's energy supply is heavily dependent on traditional biomass, which contributes to deforestation and public health issues, while its waste management infrastructure struggles to keep pace with urbanization and economic growth. This literature review evaluates the technical, economic, and socio-political feasibility of converting green waste from Ghana's urban markets into a renewable energy source via anaerobic digestion (AD). Findings reveal that Ghana possesses an immense, largely untapped resource potential, with market waste exhibiting a composition and characteristics highly suitable for biochemical conversion. However, this potential is significantly hindered by a range of systemic barriers. These include the fundamental lack of source segregation, which compromises feedstock quality; a robust but weakly implemented policy and regulatory framework that fails to attract consistent private investment; and critical sociocultural and technical hurdles, such as low public awareness and a deficit of local technical expertise. This review argues that addressing these interconnected, non-technical barriers is crucial for unlocking the full potential of a waste-to-energy paradigm in Ghana. By synthesizing existing research and identifying key implementation and research gaps, this review provides a strategic roadmap for policymakers, investors, and civil society to transition from theoretical possibility to practical reality, fostering a circular economy that simultaneously enhances energy security, improves sanitation, and mitigates climate change.