The Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association has urged government to either extend the deadline for the planned ban on styrofoam products to 2030 or fully compensate manufacturers for their investments, warning that the policy could have severe financial implications for the industry.
This comes after the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced a ban on Styrofoam products nationwide effective 1 January 2027.
According to the association, the position taken by the Environmental Protection Agency Ghana that existing styrofoam production machinery can be easily retooled to produce alternative, plant-based packaging is inaccurate and not technically feasible.
The group argues that manufacturers have made significant capital investments in specialised equipment which, in their view, cannot be converted for other packaging production processes, and would therefore become obsolete once the ban takes effect.
Speaking to Citi News, the president of the association, Ebo Botwe said the industry had not been adequately consulted and insisted that earlier technical engagement would have clarified the limitations of the machinery currently in use.
He stressed that manufacturers are left with two main options: a substantial extension of the implementation timeline or financial reimbursement for investments already made.
“EPA’s understanding is that we can retool or the styrofoam product-making machine can be retooled to produce other alternatives, which is absolutely false. It is a complete no. You cannot retool any styrofoam making machine to reproduce any other packages using plant-based materials.
“If they had made contact with us, if they had some engagement with us, would have technically explained to them the impossibility of starting from the 1st of January. At this stage, we are asking for two things. We are asking for extension of time. We propose 1st of January 2030 or, on the contrary, governments should reimburse us of our total investment cost.”
