The impending ban of Styrofoam, a non-biodegradable material, is in response to the growing problem of waste accumulation, especially in urban areas such as Accra.
President John Dramani Mahama made the announcement when he formally launched the One Tree Per Child Initiative at the Kwabenya Community Senior High School in Accra, as the nation marked this years’ World Environment Day.
Communities, civil society, businesses and governments around the world today, Thursday, June 5, 2025, marked World Environment Day under the theme BeatPlasticPollution, with official celebrations.
World Environment Day (WED), also called Eco Day, is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
It is supported by many non-government organisations, businesses, government entities, and represents the primary United Nation’s outreach day supporting the environment.
President Mahama said the fight against illegal mining, the wanton destruction of the nation’s forest, and pollution was very important in order that a good environment could be handed over to the younger and future generations.
He reiterated that one of the other things the government intended o do was to ban Styrofoam as a food packaging material.
President Mahama said: “One of the most pernicious polluters is Styrofoam plastic. When you go to buy your food and they put it in that white plastic something, and then you finish eating, you just dump it, that is one of the biggest polluters.
“And so, we are going to ban the importation of Styrofoam plastics.
“We have to use paper packaging or aluminum foil for packaging our food.”
The President said he was informing the manufacturers and importers of Styrofoam of the decision, stating that in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, there would be a ban on the importation of Styrofoam and production of styrofoam in Ghana.
President Mahama said food packaging in the country would be made from paper and from aluminum material.
GNA
