What does Ghana’s styrofoam ban mean for the environment?

President John Dramani Mahama made the announcement on Thursday, 5 June 2025, during World Environment Day celebrations held at Kwabenya Community Day School in Accra.

The President said the new policy will ban both the importation and production of Styrofoam, which is commonly used for takeaway food packaging across the country.

He explained that the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology will enforce the ban in the coming months, and urged manufacturers and importers to prepare for the transition.

Styrofoam, which is non-biodegradable, is a major contributor to Ghana’s growing plastic waste problem, especially in urban areas.

President Mahama said the ban is part of a broader plan to promote safer, more sustainable alternatives such as paper and aluminium foil.

He acknowledged that the policy may affect food vendors and small businesses that rely on the affordability of Styrofoam packaging, but stressed that environmental protection must take priority.

He also warned that if action is not taken, plastic waste could outweigh fish in the ocean by 2050, echoing global environmental projections.

The announcement follows several government efforts to address Ghana’s plastic crisis.

These include the National Plastics Management Policy, which places responsibility on producers and importers for the waste their products generate. The government has also revised its Solid Waste Management Strategy with a target to cut landfill-bound plastic by 60 per cent by 2030.

Some cities, including Tamale and Takoradi, have begun separating household and market waste using colour-coded bins.

According to the President, early results from these pilot programmes are promising.

He also highlighted that entrepreneurs are already recycling plastic into useful materials such as furniture, textiles, and fuel.