Revolutionizing industrial wastewater management in Ghana: Sustainable innovations for a cleaner future

Industrial effluents in Ghana contain pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial resistance markers, and metals that conventional systems often fail to remove, as shown in Accra–Legon monitoring and mining-belt surveys. This review aligns advanced and nature-based options with Ghana’s tariffs, typical plant scales, and GS 1212:2019 limits, and reports feasible ranges for performance, energy, and cost. Specific energy spans: UF 0.10–0.45 kWh·m⁻³ ; AnMBR 0.15–0.40; aerobic MBR 0.4–2.3; RO 0.6–1.5. At current PURC tariffs, electricity is a major OPEX driver. Constructed wetlands provide very low OPEX ($0.03–0.08·m⁻³) where land is available. Full-scale Accra data show energy recovery: a UASB with trickling filter produced 611 ± 275 Nm³ ·d⁻¹ biogas at 65 % CH₄, with plant SEC 0.23–0.31 kWh·m⁻³ and periods near energy neutrality. This paper maps near-term feasibility: UF and AnMBR for low-power polishing or high-strength streams; MBR where reuse value and skilled operation exist; RO only for high-value reuse with brine management; and wetlands where land permits. Closing pilot gaps on AOPs and hybrids will support SDG 6.3.1, while biogas use and optimized aeration advance SDG 13 and reduce risks linked to SDG 3.