The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strongly defended the government’s decision to ban the use of Styrofoam takeaway containers, warning that the material poses serious health and environmental risks when used for food packaging.
The explanation was given by the Director of Human Settlements at the Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana), Hope Smith Lomotey, who said scientific and environmental evidence over the years shows that polystyrene-based containers can become harmful when exposed to heat, oil, or acidic foods.
Mr. Lomotey stated that the ban is not arbitrary but a necessary public health intervention aimed at reducing long-term exposure to toxic substances that may migrate into food.
He explained that Styrofoam containers are especially dangerous when used to package hot meals such as kenkey, noodles, soups, and fried foods, as well as acidic items like fruit juices and citrus-based foods.
According to him, when these substances come into contact with heat or oils, chemical components from the packaging may be released into the food.
“If anytime heat gets in contact with this styrofoam, it releases chemicals that are harmful to the human being,” he said. He added that oily and acidic foods accelerate this process, increasing the risk of contamination.
Mr. Lomotey further rejected claims that the policy is merely precautionary, insisting that the risks associated with polystyrene use have been known for years and now require urgent regulatory action.
Beyond health concerns, he also highlighted the environmental burden of Styrofoam waste, noting that discarded containers frequently end up blocking drains, polluting beaches, and entering marine ecosystems.
He warned that fishermen often retrieve plastic and Styrofoam waste from the sea, affecting both livelihoods and aquatic life.
“For human health, it’s not safe. Environmentally, we are seeing it in our drains and in the sea,” he said, stressing that the country has reached a point where “enough of the problem is enough.”
The EPA has announced that a nationwide ban on the production, importation, sale, and use of Styrofoam takeaway containers will take effect from January 1, 2027.
The policy forms part of broader efforts to improve public health standards and reduce plastic pollution across Ghana.
