Plastic manufacturers in Ghana have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to reconsider the planned ban on Styrofoam food packaging and extend the implementation deadline from 2027 to 2030.
The manufacturers argue that while they support efforts to address environmental pollution and improve waste management, the proposed timeline is too short and could have serious implications for businesses, jobs, and investments within the plastics industry.
The appeal follows the government’s announcement of plans to phase out Styrofoam products as part of broader measures aimed at tackling plastic pollution and promoting environmentally sustainable alternatives.
Speaking on behalf of industry players, representatives of plastic manufacturing companies said many businesses have invested heavily in equipment and production lines dedicated to Styrofoam products and would require additional time to transition to alternative packaging materials.
According to them, an abrupt ban could lead to significant financial losses and job cuts across the sector.
“We support environmental sustainability and the need to reduce plastic waste, but the industry needs sufficient time to adjust. Extending the deadline to 2030 will allow manufacturers to transition in a structured and sustainable manner.”
The manufacturers noted that alternative packaging materials remain relatively expensive and, in some cases, are not yet available at the scale required to meet market demand.
They therefore urged the government to engage industry stakeholders to develop a realistic transition framework that balances environmental concerns with economic considerations.
“The objective should be to achieve environmental protection without unnecessarily disrupting businesses and livelihoods.”
The manufacturers further argued that thousands of workers depend directly and indirectly on the plastics sector and that a sudden phase-out could threaten employment.
The industry has therefore appealed directly to President Mahama and relevant government agencies to consider extending the deadline to 2030 and intensifying consultations with stakeholders before implementing the policy.
