A ban on styrofoam alone is not enough. Ghana urgently needs a national Foam-Free Transition Plan to guide businesses, local assemblies, and citizens before the January 2027 deadline, AERC Ghana has declared.
While welcoming the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to ban the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of styrofoam and takeaway packs effective 1 January 2027, the group warned that “a ban is only the beginning.”
“For too long, single-use plastics and foam takeaway packs have polluted our streets, choked our drains, worsened flooding, burdened waste collectors, and placed an unfair environmental cost on communities,” AERC Ghana said in a statement. “This decision is not only about waste management. It is about public health, environmental justice, flooding prevention, and the future of cleaner communities in Ghana.”
However, the organisation stressed that the success of the policy “will not be measured by the announcement alone. It will be measured by how well Ghana prepares, how fairly the transition is managed, and whether affordable and safe alternatives are made available before the deadline.”
AERC Ghana is therefore calling for a national Foam-Free Transition Plan to guide food vendors, schools, churches, event organizers, supermarkets, public institutions, local assemblies, and citizens ahead of January 2027.
“Without proper planning, the ban could place pressure on small food vendors, market women, chop bars, school canteens, caterers, and low-income consumers who have depended on cheap disposable packaging because better systems were not made available to them,” the group stated. “Environmental action must be firm, but it must also be fair. The transition away from styrofoam must protect the environment without punishing the people and businesses who need support to change.”
As part of the transition plan, AERC Ghana called for five key actions: clear implementation guidelines from government agencies; support for affordable, safe, reusable, and locally available alternatives; education and practical guidance for small businesses; immediate preparation of public education and enforcement plans by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies; and immediate phase-out efforts by schools, churches, companies, supermarkets, restaurants, and event centers.
“The phase-out of styrofoam should not be treated as a burden,” AERC Ghana said. “It should be treated as an opportunity to build cleaner business practices, promote local innovation, strengthen waste reduction systems, and protect communities from the long-term cost of disposable convenience.”
The organisation also urged the public not to wait until January 2027. “Every restaurant, school, church, company, event planner, food vendor, and household must begin asking a simple but important question: Are we foam-free ready?”
AERC Ghana’s message was blunt: “Don’t wait for the ban. Start the switch. January 2027 is the deadline. Today is the transition.”
Below is the Full Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AERC Ghana welcomes the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of styrofoam and takeaway packs effective 1 January 2027.
This is a necessary and timely step in Ghana’s fight against plastic pollution. For too long, single-use plastics and foam takeaway packs have polluted our streets, choked our drains,
worsened flooding, burdened waste collectors, and placed an unfair environmental cost on communities.
We believe this decision is not only about waste management. It is about public health, environmental justice, flooding prevention, and the future of cleaner communities in Ghana.
However, AERC Ghana is clear on one point: a ban is only the beginning.
The success of this policy will not be measured by the announcement alone. It will be measured by how well Ghana prepares, how fairly the transition is managed, and whether
affordable and safe alternatives are made available before the deadline.
AERC Ghana is therefore calling for a national Foam-Free Transition Plan to guide businesses, food vendors, schools, churches, event organizers, supermarkets, public institutions, local assemblies, and citizens ahead of January 2027. Without proper planning, the ban could place pressure on small food vendors, market women, chop bars, school canteens, caterers, and low-income consumers who have depended on cheap disposable packaging because better
systems were not made available to them.
AERC Ghana believes that environmental action must be firm, but it must also be fair. The transition away from Styrofoam must protect the environment without punishing the people
and businesses who need support to change.
- Government and regulatory agencies must publish clear implementation guidelines on what is banned, what is allowed, and how enforcement will be carried out.
- Ghana must support affordable, safe, reusable, and locally available alternatives so that the country does not simply replace styrofoam with another harmful single-use product.
- Small businesses, especially food vendors and caterers, must receive education, support, and practical guidance to help them transition before the deadline.
- Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies must prepare public education and enforcement plans now, not after the ban begins.
- Institutions such as schools, churches, companies, supermarkets, restaurants, and event centers must begin reducing and phasing out styrofoam use immediately. AERC Ghana is also urging the public not to wait until January 2027 before taking action. Every restaurant, school, church, company, event planner, food vendor, and household
must begin asking a simple but important question: Are we foam-free ready?
The phase-out of styrofoam should not be treated as a burden. It should be treated as an opportunity to build cleaner business practices, promote local innovation,
strengthen waste reduction systems, and protect communities from the long-term cost of disposable convenience.
As an organization advocating for the phasing out of single use plastics, AERC Ghana will continue to support policies and public action that reduce plastic pollution and promote responsible consumption.
We will also continue to advocate for a just transition that supports small businesses, protects vulnerable communities, encourages innovation, and ensures that environmental
progress benefits everyone.
The EPA’s announcement is welcome. But Ghana must now move from announcement to action, from prohibition to preparation, and from wasteful convenience to responsible
alternatives.
AERC Ghana’s message is simple:
Don’t wait for the ban. Start the switch. January 2027 is the deadline. Today is the transition.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aercghana.org
0246980091/02455127304
