EPA engages stakeholders in Savannah Region on ban on Styrofoam products

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has engaged stakeholders in the Savannah Region, on the impending ban on Styrofoam products in the country.

The one-day stakeholders’ engagement, held at Damongo, was attended by food vendors, restaurant operators, traditional and religious leaders, students, amongst other stakeholders.

Representatives of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Health Service and the Department of Agriculture were also in attendance.

The ban on styrofoam products in Ghana will take effect on January 01, 2027, as part of efforts to reduce the environmental and health risks associated with these products.

Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, at the engagement, ‎called on households, food vendors, schools, traders and businesses to begin moving away from the use of styrofoam takeaway containers to other healthier alternatives.

She said early adoption of alternative materials such as traditional plantain leaves, as well as biodegradable packaging, reusable containers and other materials that could break down naturally and/or be recycled, would make the transition easier when enforcement began.

‎She urged the participants to take the message to their homes, workplaces, markets and communities, to ensure that residents understood the importance of the ban and the need to adopt sustainable practices.

Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe, the Savannah Regional Minister, expressed the region’s commitment to enforcing the ban, saying the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council, the Municipal and District Assemblies and the law enforcement agencies at checkpoints would enforce the ban.

He expressed concern about the growing use and improper disposal of styrofoam takeaway containers in communities across the region, saying discarded containers often littered streets and public spaces, choking gutters and obstructing fluid flows in drains, contributing to flooding and undermining efforts to maintain clean communities.

He, however, observed that switching to alternative packaging could create financial challenges for food vendors and traders, saying the EPA’s Savannah Regional Office had been directed to engage affected groups and educate them on affordable alternatives.

‎Dr Abu Iddrisu, the Savannah Regional Director, EPA, urged residents to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and support measures aimed at reducing waste and promoting responsible disposal practices.

Meanwhile, as part of preparations for enforcement of the ban, there will be public education and clean-up campaigns in the region running from now through to December this year.

‎It will target food vendors, including chop bars and restaurants, and also engage hotels, guest houses, shops, plastic retailers, schools, lorry stations and other public spaces.