The Ghana Plastic Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) has strongly opposed the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) planned ban on Styrofoam products, warning that the January 2027 implementation deadline could trigger significant financial losses, widespread job cuts and setbacks to the government’s industrialisation agenda.
In a statement issued on June 21, the association appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and extend the implementation date to January 1, 2030, arguing that the current transition period is inadequate and could effectively force many manufacturers out of business.
According to the GPMA, more than 171 factories across the country have collectively invested an estimated GH¢1.493 billion in plant and machinery dedicated to the production of Styrofoam food packaging products, with a substantial portion of the investments financed through bank loans.
The association rejected suggestions that existing equipment could be adapted to manufacture environmentally friendly alternatives, insisting that Styrofoam production machinery is specifically designed for polystyrene products and cannot be converted for biodegradable packaging production.
“Absolutely no Styrofoam manufacturing machine can be retooled to manufacture any of the proposed alternatives using plant-based materials,” the GPMA stated.
The association explained that manufacturers typically require between five and ten years to recover investments in such equipment, noting that some companies acquired new machinery as recently as two years ago. In one case, a company that established entirely new operations two years ago is expected to recover its investment only by 2030.
The GPMA highlighted the plastic industry’s significant contribution to Ghana’s economy, stating that it directly employs more than 41,000 people and supports an estimated 1.89 million jobs within the plastic waste recycling sector. It further noted that the industry indirectly supports approximately 1.43 million jobs in related sectors, including sachet water, bottled water, food processing and beverage production.
“Total employment generation by the plastic industry is about 3.71 million, and about 92 per cent of industries in Ghana depend on the plastic industry for all their plastic packaging needs,” the association said.
The GPMA also pointed to the industry’s export significance, noting that more than 57 per cent of locally manufactured plastic products are exported to markets across the ECOWAS sub-region and countries including Angola, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Algeria, making plastics one of Ghana’s leading export commodities.
The association warned that an outright ban could increase reliance on imported packaging alternatives, place additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves and result in factory closures. It also cautioned that businesses may be compelled to relocate machinery and operations abroad, potentially leading to capital flight and higher inflation.
According to the GPMA, commercial banks have become increasingly concerned about the implications of the policy since the EPA announced the ban in May.
“Since EPA’s press release, the banks have taken serious concern as to what will happen to our machinery and how to recover their loans if the machines become scrap,” the association noted.
The EPA announced the nationwide ban on May 25, 2026, following a policy declaration by President Mahama during the 2025 World Environment Day celebrations. The ban covers the production, importation, distribution, sale and use of expanded polystyrene foam products, including food containers, disposable cups and plates, foam mattresses and ceiling insulation materials. Medical and scientific applications are exempt from the directive.
The GPMA said manufacturers were formally notified of the decision on June 4, 2026, leaving them with approximately seven months to cease operations, a timeline it described as unrealistic and premature.
Although the association says it supports efforts to address environmental concerns associated with Styrofoam products, it is advocating a phased approach. It has proposed a minimum transition period of 18 months after all necessary conditions are established and has expressed support for a ban on the importation of finished Styrofoam products beginning in January 2027.
As an alternative, the association has requested that the government compensate manufacturers for their GH¢1.493 billion investment in plant and machinery if it insists on maintaining the January 2027 implementation date.
“These investments were made under the existing regulatory framework, and therefore, a sudden transition presents serious financial challenges,” the statement said.
The GPMA further argued that plastic pollution is fundamentally a waste management issue rather than a production problem. It cited examples from countries such as Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands, where environmental outcomes have improved through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes and investments in recycling infrastructure rather than outright product bans.
The association has therefore called on President Mahama to intervene and facilitate broader stakeholder engagement, warning that implementing the ban without adequate safeguards could undermine efforts to promote local manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s import substitution agenda.
