The President of the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Ghana, Ebbo Botwe, has called for thorough consultation before implementing any ban on Styrofoam production and importation in the country.
His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement during the launch of the 2025 national tree planting campaign, where he revealed plans to prohibit the use of Styrofoam in Ghana due to its harmful impact on the environment. The President described Styrofoam—commonly used for food packaging—as a major pollutant and emphasized the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to help restore Ghana’s forest cover and combat climate change.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News the same day, Mr. Botwe acknowledged the environmental concerns but cautioned that a ban should not be rushed. He argued that public understanding of Styrofoam’s environmental impact is often misguided, noting that the material is composed of 95–96% air and only 4–5% plastic.
“It becomes more of an eyesore when improperly disposed of,” Botwe explained. “But its composition is not as harmful as people assume. We need to address the full scope of pollution, including better waste management, recycling systems, and public education.”
He emphasized the association’s openness to working with government authorities but insisted that any decisions should be data-driven and include input from industry stakeholders to prevent negative repercussions for manufacturers, workers, and consumers.
Mr. Botwe also disclosed that the association is scheduled to meet with the Minister for Environment between June 16 and 20 to provide a comprehensive overview of the plastic industry and advocate for informed policymaking.
