The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has affirmed its readiness to enforce Ghana’s ban on Styrofoam food containers and related products from January 1, 2027, as part of efforts to tackle plastic pollution and protect public health.
The ban will prohibit the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of Styrofoam products across the country.
According to them, the products contribute to environmental pollution because their lightweight nature makes them easily dispersed, while their disposal and recycling remain difficult. They also contribute to littering and the blockage of drainage systems.
Speaking at a side event at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, Dr Jackson Adiyiah Nyantakyi, who represented the Chief Executive, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, said the Authority was prepared to implement the ban on the scheduled date.
“Effective January 1, 2027, the President has directed the EPA to come up with a roadmap that will ensure that the importation, sale and use of Styrofoam products are banned in the country,” he said.
Ahead of the implementation, the EPA said it has engaged manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers to prepare them for the transition and ensure compliance with the new restrictions.
The ban is expected to affect businesses involved in the production, importation, and sale of Styrofoam food containers and related products, requiring them to make arrangements for alternative packaging materials before the deadline.
