Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

The Centre for Coastal Management - Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (CCM - ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast has been honoured with the Outstanding Academic Institution in Plastics Leadership Award. This award celebrates academic institutions that demonstrate exemplary leadership through plastics-focused education, research, student entrepreneurship, and partnerships that connect academia with community solutions.

CCM - ACECoR’s recognition reflects more than a decade of dedicated work at the forefront of coastal and marine resilience research. Since its establishment in 2013, the Centre has distinguished itself as a trailblazer in demand-driven applied research, capacity building, and community-focused development efforts, all geared toward strengthening the resilience of coastal communities.

A major pillar of CCM - ACECoR’s impact has been its leadership in plastics and marine litter research. The Centre has worked closely with respected international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UK Government’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), Nippon Foundation, and Conservation International. These collaborations have driven innovative training and research initiatives that address the growing challenge of plastic pollution in West Africa.

One of the Centre’s notable achievements is the development of the West Africa Marine Litter Training Programme, created in partnership with the OCPP. This initiative equips young professionals and students with the skills to conduct high-quality marine litter research, helping to fill critical knowledge gaps across the region. Since its launch, the programme has trained more than 50 participants in Ghana, strengthening national and regional capacity for evidence-based policymaking and environmental management.

Further advancing its research leadership, CCM - ACECoR, funded by the OCPP established the first state-of-the-art microplastics laboratory at the University of Cape Coast. This facility provides researchers with advanced tools to investigate microplastic pollution, supporting Ghana’s scientific community and contributing to global understanding of plastics in aquatic environments.

The Centre also plays a strategic role at the national level, and currently serves as co-chair of the Metrics Task Force and a member of the Behaviour Task Force under the Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), contributing technical expertise to national efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

Receiving the Outstanding Academic Institution in Plastics Leadership Award affirms CCM - ACECoR’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community-centered solutions. It also underscores the Centre’s growing influence in shaping plastics research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives across Ghana and the wider West African region.