The Director of Human Settlements at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Hope Smith Lomotey, has defended the government’s decision to ban Styrofoam takeaway containers, citing growing concerns over their impact on both public health and the environment.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Friday, June 26, 2026, Lomotey explained that the decision was informed by increasing scientific and environmental evidence showing that polystyrene products can pose serious health risks when used for food packaging.
According to him, the ban is not aimed at eliminating takeaway packaging entirely but rather at promoting safer and more sustainable alternatives that do not endanger human health or the environment.
He dismissed suggestions that the policy was purely precautionary, insisting that the risks associated with Styrofoam have been known for years and now require urgent intervention.
He highlighted that polystyrene containers become particularly hazardous when exposed to heat, oily substances, or acidic foods.
He noted that common meals such as kenkey, instant noodles, shito, citrus fruits, and fruit juices are especially concerning when packaged in such materials.
“If anytime heat gets in contact with this styrofoam, it releases chemicals that are harmful to human being. Immediately oily foods get in contact with it, it releases these toxins, and acidic foods also cause it to release a lot of toxins that are not good for our health,” he warned.
Beyond health concerns, the EPA official also pointed to the growing environmental burden caused by Styrofoam waste. He noted that the material is increasingly clogging drainage systems, polluting beaches and oceans, and disrupting fishing activities.
“For human health, it’s not safe. Public health is not safe. Environmentally, we are seeing it in our drains and in the sea. Our fishermen go to sea and harvest some of these plastics and styrofoam. I think we have all reached a point that we have agreed that enough of the problem is enough,” he added.
The EPA has announced that the nationwide ban on the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of polystyrene foam products—commonly known as Styrofoam takeaway packs—will come into effect on January 1, 2027. The policy is part of broader efforts to safeguard public health and reduce plastic pollution across the country.
Earlier, the EPA announced a nationwide ban on polystyrene foam products, commonly referred to as Styrofoam or takeaway packs, effective January 1, 2027.
The directive prohibits the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam products across Ghana, covering both commercial and household applications.
The announcement follows a policy statement by President John Dramani Mahama during World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, 2025, where he outlined the government’s plan to phase out Styrofoam as part of broader efforts to tackle plastic pollution and improve environmental sanitation.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 25, 2026, the EPA explained that the ban applies to a wide range of items, including food packaging containers and takeaway packs, disposable cups and plates, foam packaging used by restaurants and food vendors, as well as foam-based bedding materials such as mattresses and cushions.
Other affected products include insulation and packaging materials, along with any other polystyrene foam items intended for human use or consumption-related purposes.
SOURCE: newscenta