President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will soon ban the importation and local production of Styrofoam in Ghana, describing it as a major contributor to environmental pollution.
The announcement was made on Thursday, June 5, during the launch of the 2025 national tree planting exercise, an initiative aimed at restoring the nation’s forest cover and curbing climate change.
Mahama stressed that Styrofoam—commonly used for food packaging—is one of the most harmful pollutants, as it is frequently dumped after use, contributing heavily to plastic waste.
“We’re going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics,” President Mahama stated. “One of the most polluters is Styrofoam plastics—where you go and buy your food, and they put it in that whitish something. You finish eating, you just dump it. That is one of the biggest polluters.”
He further urged manufacturers and importers to prepare for the impending change, noting that the Ministry of Environment will soon take formal steps to implement the ban.
The move is part of a wider government effort to promote sustainable environmental practices, including a shift to eco-friendly alternatives like paper packaging and aluminium foil.
