President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans to ban the importation and local production of Styrofoam in Ghana, citing its severe environmental impact.
The announcement was made on Thursday, June 5, during the launch of the 2025 national tree planting exercise, an initiative aimed at restoring forest cover and tackling climate change.
Highlighting the harmful effects of Styrofoam, especially its widespread use in food packaging, the President emphasized the urgent need for alternative materials to curb pollution.
He cautioned manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam to prepare for the imminent policy change, noting that the Ministry of Environment would soon take formal steps to enforce the ban.
The proposed prohibition forms part of broader government efforts to promote sustainable environmental practices and reduce plastic waste across the country.
President Mahama stated, “One of the most polluters is Styrofoam plastics, where you go and buy your food, and they put it in that whitish something, and you finish eating, you just dump it. That is one of the biggest polluters. And so, we’re going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics.”
Encouraging the adoption of alternative packaging solutions, he added, “We have to use paper packaging or aluminium foil for our food. I’m informing the manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam that the Ministry of Environment, soon we are going to ban the importation of Styrofoam and production of Styrofoam in Ghana.”
