President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to ban the importation, production, and use of styrofoam plastic takeaway containers in Ghana, citing their harmful impact on the environment.
He made the announcement during the formal launch of the One Tree Per Child Initiative at the Kwabenya Community Senior High School in Accra.
Styrofoam, a non-biodegradable material widely used for food packaging, has become a major contributor to plastic pollution in Ghana’s urban centers, particularly in Accra.
Hence, President Mahama described the material as “one of the most pernicious polluters,” often discarded carelessly after use.
“When you go to buy food and they serve it in that white plastic container, and then you dump it after eating, it ends up clogging our drains and polluting our environment,” he said.
He explained that the decision to ban styrofoam aligns with broader efforts to tackle environmental degradation, including illegal mining, deforestation, and water pollution.
“We owe it to future generations to leave behind a cleaner, healthier environment,” he stressed.
Mahama said the proposed ban would be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
He urged local manufacturers and importers to begin preparing for a transition to alternative, eco-friendly materials.
“We’ll encourage the use of paper-based and aluminum packaging for food instead,” he added.
However, this is expected to be a major step forward in Ghana’s campaign against plastic pollution, complementing tree-planting initiatives and other environmental interventions.
