President of the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Ghana, Ebbo Botwe, has responded to President John Dramani Mahama’s recent announcement of plans to ban the importation and production of Styrofoam in Ghana, describing the move as one that requires proper consultation and deeper understanding of the plastic industry.

This follows President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement of plans to ban the importation and production of Styrofoam in Ghana, citing its significant contribution to environmental pollution.

The announcement was made on Thursday, June 5, during the launch of the 2025 national tree planting exercise, an initiative aimed at restoring the country’s forest cover and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Describing Styrofoam as one of the most harmful pollutants, particularly due to its widespread use in food packaging, the President stressed the urgent need for alternative materials.

However, speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 5, Mr. Botwe noted that while the concerns about pollution are valid, there are several misconceptions about Styrofoam that need to be addressed before considering a ban.

According to him, the environmental impact of Styrofoam is often misunderstood, and its composition is not as harmful as commonly portrayed.

He, however, acknowledged that Styrofoam is visually unpleasant when not properly disposed of, calling for a more nuanced discussion about pollution that goes beyond just banning products, to include investment in waste collection, recycling, and public education.

He reiterated the association’s willingness to collaborate with the government but emphasised that any policy decisions must be backed by stakeholder engagement and data-driven assessments to avoid unintended consequences for manufacturers, workers, and consumers.

“Let me try to clear up some misconceptions. The styrofoam that you see contains between 4% to 5% maximum plastic. The rest is air. It is basically air. It becomes more of an eyesore in terms of impacting the environment. We have a meeting with the Minister for Environment between June 16 and 20. We really want to give the minister a proper overview of the plastic industry so when the government want to initiate any programmes or any decision, he will be well informed,” he said.

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