Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has thrown her support behind the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) planned ban on polystyrene foam products, insisting that the January 1, 2027 deadline must be maintained.
The ban will cover the production, importation, distribution, sale and use of Styrofoam products, including commonly used takeaway food containers.
Dr Zanetor said the environmental consequences of continued reliance on polystyrene products were too serious to ignore and required firm government action.
She made the remarks on Thursday, August 27, 2026, when she appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for her vetting.
The Korle Klottey MP said phasing out Styrofoam formed part of the broader measures needed to tackle Ghana’s worsening waste management challenges and encourage more sustainable practices.
She noted that the EPA had already begun sensitising the public ahead of the implementation of the policy, pointing to a recent awareness campaign in Kumasi.
According to Dr Zanetor, public education would be important in helping people adjust to alternatives, but she stressed that education alone would not be enough without effective enforcement.
She recalled that in the past, people often carried their own containers when purchasing food, suggesting that changes in consumer behaviour had contributed to the widespread use of disposable packaging.
Dr Zanetor acknowledged that changing established habits could take time but said government could accelerate the process through incentives, sanctions and consistent enforcement.
She therefore maintained that the January 1, 2027 deadline should not be postponed.
“I stand by the fact that the ban timeline has to be maintained,” she said.
She further urged authorities to demonstrate the necessary commitment in enforcing the ban once it takes effect, arguing that decisive implementation would be critical to reducing the environmental impact of polystyrene waste.
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