The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has warned businesses and consumers to abandon Styrofoam products ahead of January 1, 2027, when enforcement of Ghana’s ban is scheduled to begin.
The Authority is urging food vendors, traders, manufacturers and consumers to switch to reusable containers and environmentally friendly packaging before the deadline.
Speaking at the Savannah Regional launch of the national campaign against Styrofoam products in Damongo on Monday, October 26, 2026, the EPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, said Ghanaians must reconsider their reliance on disposable takeaway containers.
She encouraged consumers to carry their own food bowls and embrace traditional alternatives, including plantain leaves, while urging businesses to explore biodegradable and recyclable packaging.
Professor Browne Klutse said the campaign required collective action from government institutions, businesses, schools, religious leaders and the general public.
She disclosed that the EPA would work with key stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana Tourism Authority and Ghana Education Service, to intensify public education and support enforcement.
The Savannah Regional Director of the EPA, Dr Abu Iddrisu, said Styrofoam waste had become a growing environmental problem in Damongo, Salaga, Buipe, Busunu and other communities.
He said discarded food containers litter public spaces, choke drainage systems and pollute water bodies, posing threats to aquatic life and animals that may ingest the materials.
Dr Iddrisu also raised concerns about potential health risks associated with using Styrofoam containers for hot food.
He said the region had a particular interest in tackling the problem because environmental pollution could undermine its tourism potential, including the appeal of Mole National Park.
“A clean Savannah is a wealthy Savannah,” he said, calling on residents to support the campaign.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Yussif Biawurbi, stressed that January 1, 2027, marked the commencement of enforcement, urging residents and businesses not to wait until the deadline before changing their practices.
He called on traditional authorities, religious leaders and educational institutions to intensify public education on the environmental and potential health implications of Styrofoam use.
The Minister specifically urged Muslim and Christian leaders to use their platforms to educate congregations on the need to protect the environment.
He also called for stronger public education by the EPA and Ghana Health Service on the potential health risks associated with harmful chemicals in certain food-packaging materials.
The enforcement exercise is expected to cover the production, importation, distribution, retail and use of Styrofoam products covered by the ban, including takeaway food containers, plates, packaging materials and ceiling products.
The campaign forms part of national efforts to tackle pollution, improve sanitation and promote environmentally sustainable practices.
The EPA is urging consumers, food vendors and businesses to adopt safer and more sustainable alternatives now to ensure a smoother transition when enforcement begins.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
