Ghana EPA Targets Single-Use Plastics, Sets 2027 Styrofoam Ban

Plastic Recycling  |  2026-08-31 10:16:43   |   By

Deputy EPA CEO Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo confirmed that enforcement of the nationwide styrofoam ban will begin on January 1, 2027.

Summary
  • Ghana to enforce styrofoam ban: The Environmental Protection Authority has confirmed that the nationwide ban on expanded polystyrene food packaging will take effect on January 1, 2027. The measure is part of a broader government effort to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
  • Sustainable alternatives gaining attention: EPA officials said businesses can shift to paper packaging, recyclable plastic containers, aluminium foil and materials made from bamboo, rice husks and coconut fibres. The Authority believes the transition can take place without seriously affecting food vendors and other businesses.
  • Importers warned of penalties: The EPA has advised businesses to stop placing new orders for styrofoam products ahead of the enforcement deadline. Products entering Ghana after January 1 could be confiscated, while violators may face legal action.

Ghana to Enforce Styrofoam Ban in January 2027 as EPA Targets Single-Use Plastics

Ghana will begin enforcing a nationwide ban on expanded polystyrene food packaging on January 1, 2027, as the Environmental Protection Authority moves toward a broader effort to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

By Paul Ploumis
Published August 31, 2026

Key Points

  • Ghana will begin enforcing its nationwide styrofoam food-packaging ban on January 1, 2027.
  • The EPA said the measure will be the first step in a broader campaign to reduce single-use plastic consumption.
  • Importers have been told not to place new orders, while products arriving after the deadline could be seized and violators prosecuted.

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has confirmed that its ban on expanded polystyrene food packaging will mark the beginning of a wider campaign to reduce single-use plastics consumption across the country.

EPA Chief Executive Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse said the policy follows a presidential directive and is based on concerns over the environmental and health impacts of styrofoam. The material has been identified as a major contributor to blocked drains and plastic pollution affecting ecosystems and marine life.

EPA Points to Alternative Packaging Options

Speaking after an awareness programme at Kumasi’s Kejetia Market, Klutse said the ban was not intended to support any private business. She noted that traders were already offering alternatives, including paper packaging, recyclable plastic containers, aluminium foil and products made from bamboo, rice husks and coconut fibres.

The EPA pointed to measures against single-use plastics taken by African countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. According to Klutse, Ghana can make a similar shift without disrupting food vendors and other businesses.

Nationwide Enforcement Begins January 1, 2027

Deputy EPA CEO Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo confirmed that enforcement of the nationwide styrofoam ban will begin on January 1, 2027. He warned importers not to place new orders and said products arriving after the deadline could be seized and violators prosecuted. Businesses have been given sufficient preparation time, he added.

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