The Ghana Plastic Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) has urged the government and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to review the planned ban on the manufacture and sale of Styrofoam products, warning that the move could have far-reaching economic consequences for businesses, jobs and investment.
The Association said the proposed ban, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, could disrupt a key segment of Ghana’s manufacturing sector if implemented without a longer transition period and broader stakeholder engagement.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Ebbo Botwe, the GPMA expressed concern that the decision was announced without prior consultation with industry players, adding that the seven-month timeline available for adjustment was inadequate for manufacturers to restructure operations and adopt alternatives.
According to the Association, Ghana’s plastic manufacturing industry comprises more than 171 factories and directly employs over 41,000 workers nationwide. It noted that the sector also supports millions of livelihoods through related industries such as recycling, sachet water production, food packaging, beverage manufacturing and distribution.
The GPMA warned that an abrupt implementation of the ban could place significant pressure on manufacturers who have invested heavily in Styrofoam production facilities over the years.
The Association estimated that industry players have invested about GH¢1.493 billion in plant and machinery dedicated to the production of Styrofoam food packaging products.
It explained that the specialised equipment used in Styrofoam manufacturing cannot easily be modified or converted to produce alternative packaging materials, raising the risk of stranded assets and substantial financial losses.
According to the GPMA, many of the investments were financed through bank loans, making it difficult for affected companies to meet their debt obligations if production is halted before investments are recovered.
The Association noted that manufacturers typically require between five and ten years to recoup capital investments, adding that some firms had only recently acquired new production equipment.
Industry operators fear that the planned ban could weaken the competitiveness of local manufacturers and undermine investor confidence in Ghana’s industrial sector.
The GPMA further highlighted the export contribution of the industry, stating that more than half of locally manufactured Styrofoam products are exported to markets within the ECOWAS sub-region and other African countries.
It cautioned that factory closures resulting from the ban could lead to significant job losses, reduced tax revenues and lower foreign exchange earnings from exports.
The Association also warned that businesses may be compelled to relocate machinery and production lines to neighbouring countries where similar restrictions do not exist, potentially leading to capital flight and loss of industrial capacity.
While acknowledging environmental concerns associated with plastic waste, the GPMA argued that pollution challenges stem largely from ineffective waste management systems rather than the production of plastic products themselves.
The Association called for alternative policy measures focused on strengthening waste collection, recycling infrastructure and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes to improve environmental outcomes without undermining industrial growth.
It said a more practical transition period would be at least 18 months after all necessary regulatory, technical and market conditions have been established.
The GPMA also expressed support for a proposed ban on the importation of finished Styrofoam products from January 2027, arguing that such a measure would protect local manufacturers while encouraging environmental reforms.
The Association has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and extend the implementation deadline to January 1, 2030, to provide businesses with sufficient time to recover investments, service existing loans and transition to alternative production systems.
The appeal comes amid growing debate over how Ghana can balance environmental sustainability objectives with industrial development, employment preservation and private sector growth.
