Courtesy Jospong Group
Ghana will prohibit the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of styrofoam food containers and related products from January 1, 2027, as part of efforts to address growing health and environmental concerns associated with single-use plastics.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says the ban is intended to reduce pollution, protect public health and encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly alternatives to styrofoam packaging.
The Ashanti Regional Director of EPA, Dr. Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, who outlined the policy and its implementation roadmap, said styrofoam products posed significant environmental challenges because of their chemical composition, durability and inability to biodegrade easily.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO of EPA, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, at a side event at COP 31 in Antalya- Türkiye, he explained that the lightweight nature of the products made them easily dispersed by wind, contributing to littering and drainage blockages across communities.
He said the materials also presented serious challenges for waste management because they were difficult and expensive to recycle.
Because of its lightweight nature, it spreads very easily when it gets into the environment, and people dispose of it anyhow. This contributes to the sanitation and drainage challenges we have in the country,” he said.
Dr. Nyantakyi said the decision followed a directive by President John Dramani Mahama on June 5, 2025, asking the EPA to develop a roadmap towards phasing out styrofoam food containers in Ghana.
He said the policy was also informed by concerns about the potential health effects of chemicals associated with the products, including substances linked to cancer.
According to him, styrofoam materials contain chemical components that could pose health risks, while their breakdown into smaller particles contributes to the growing problem of microplastics in the environment.
He noted that microplastics had been detected in various environmental systems, with scientific research also raising concerns about their presence in the human bloodstream.
Dr. Nyantakyi said the government was therefore prioritising public health and environmental protection in implementing the ban.
The vision is that people should live long. You can make money, but if you do not have the life to enjoy that money, then what is the benefit?” he said, dismissing concerns that the policy was intended to undermine businesses.
Industry engagement
Addressing concerns about the potential impact on businesses and people employed in the styrofoam manufacturing and distribution chain, the EPA said it had begun engaging manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers ahead of the implementation date.
The Authority said the engagements were intended to give industry players sufficient time to clear existing stocks, adjust their operations and explore alternative products before the ban takes effect.
The EPA Director for Greater Accra-East region, Samuel Oteng, who was involved in the implementation process said importers had been advised to stop placing new orders, taking into consideration the estimated two-to-three-month importation cycle.
He mentioned that the EPA was also working with local manufacturers to encourage them to explore other products and business opportunities.
The authority indicated that only a limited number of companies, estimated at about six, were involved in local production of the affected products.
Dr. Nyantakyi explained that the transition would be managed through continued consultations with industry players to minimise disruptions and prevent businesses from being taken by surprise.
Alternative packaging
On alternatives, Dr. Nyantakyi encouraged the public and businesses to return to traditional biodegradable materials, including leaves used for wrapping and serving food.
He also identified plant-based packaging materials and paper containers as possible substitutes for styrofoam products.
He said the availability of environmentally friendly alternatives would be critical to ensuring a smooth transition and encouraging consumers and food vendors to adopt sustainable packaging practices.
The EPA said public education and sensitisation activities had already begun to prepare communities for the change, with particular attention to retailers, market operators, food vendors and consumers.
It expressed confidence that sustained stakeholder engagement would help secure public cooperation and ensure that the ban was implemented effectively from January 2027.
The policy forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to address plastic pollution, improve sanitation and promote more sustainable approaches to production, consumption and waste management.
