President John Dramani Mahama has announced decisive steps to combat deforestation and plastic pollution, including an impending ban on the use of wooden furniture in schools and the importation and production of Styrofoam in Ghana.
Speaking at a World Environment Day event in Accra on Thursday, June 5, the former President said the country must align its afforestation efforts with sustainable practices and stop contradicting environmental goals.
“We have been planting trees and cutting them down at the same time,” President Mahama noted. He disclosed plans to issue a directive halting the use of wood in the production of desks and chairs for schools, replacing them with eco-friendly alternatives like recycled plastic or metal.
Additionally, Mahama described Styrofoam as one of Ghana’s most harmful pollutants due to its extensive use in food packaging.
“We’re going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics,” he said, urging manufacturers and importers to brace for the shift toward biodegradable packaging such as paper and aluminium foil. The Ministry of Environment, he added, will soon formalize the ban to support environmental protection.
