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Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to uphold the January 1, 2027 deadline for the ban on polystyrene foam products, popularly known as Styrofoam or takeaway packs.
She said the environmental harm caused by the production, use and disposal of polystyrene products had become too serious to ignore, making firm action necessary to reduce their impact on the environment.
Dr Zanetor made the call on Thursday, August 27, 2026, when she appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for her ministerial vetting.
According to the Korle Klottey Member of Parliament, implementing the ban would form part of broader measures to tackle Ghana’s waste management challenges and encourage more sustainable practices.
She noted that the EPA had already begun public sensitisation ahead of the proposed ban, pointing to an awareness campaign recently held in Kumasi as evidence of preparations for its implementation.
Dr Zanetor acknowledged that changing public behaviour around the use of plastics and other disposable materials could take time, but said incentives and penalties could help drive the transition.
She recalled how people traditionally carried their own containers when purchasing food, arguing that the widespread use of disposable packaging reflected a shift in public habits.
She stressed that the success of the policy would ultimately depend on effective enforcement and the seriousness with which authorities approach the issue.
“I stand by the fact that the ban timeline has to be maintained,” she said.