In a significant move to combat environmental pollution, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Government of Ghana will soon impose a nationwide ban on the importation and use of Styrofoam as a food packaging material.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark World Environment Day, President Mahama described Styrofoam as one of the most harmful pollutants currently affecting the country.
“One of the most pernicious polluters is Styrofoam plastic. When you go to buy your food, and they put it in that white plastic container, you eat it and then just dump it. That is one of the biggest polluters,” the President stated.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting environmentally sustainable alternatives and said measures are being put in place to prohibit both the production and importation of Styrofoam into Ghana.
“We’re going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics. We have to use paper packaging or aluminum foil for packaging our food,” President Mahama declared.
“I’m informing the manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, that this ban is imminent.”
The President added that the country must shift from reliance on landfill waste disposal and work towards sustainable waste management practices. He urged Ghanaians to embrace eco-friendly alternatives and support the move to cleaner packaging solutions.
The forthcoming ban is expected to be part of a broader national environmental policy aimed at reducing plastic pollution, improving public health, and safeguarding natural ecosystems. Environmental advocates have welcomed the announcement as a major step toward a greener Ghana.