The Ghana Plastic Manufacturers’ Association (GPMA) has appealed to the government and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to reconsider the planned ban on the production and sale of Styrofoam products, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
According to the association, the decision was announced without adequate consultation with industry stakeholders and could have serious economic consequences for manufacturers across the country.
In a statement issued on June 21, the GPMA said the current transition period is too short for businesses to adapt, especially considering the scale of investment made in Styrofoam production.
The association revealed that Ghana’s plastic manufacturing industry includes more than 170 factories and directly employs over 41,000 people, while supporting thousands of additional jobs in sectors such as food packaging, recycling, sachet water production, and beverage manufacturing.
GPMA estimates that manufacturers have invested nearly GH¢1.5 billion in machinery specifically designed for Styrofoam production. It argued that these machines cannot easily be converted to produce alternative packaging materials, making the proposed transition particularly challenging.
The group also raised concerns about outstanding bank loans used to finance many of these investments, warning that businesses could struggle to meet their financial obligations if production is halted before investments are recovered.
According to the association, many companies need between five and ten years to recoup their investments, with some firms having purchased new equipment only recently.
The GPMA further noted that the industry exports a significant portion of its products to countries within the ECOWAS region and beyond, and cautioned that the ban could negatively affect Ghana’s export market.
While acknowledging the need to address environmental challenges, the association argued that plastic pollution is largely a waste management issue rather than a manufacturing problem. It suggested that stronger recycling initiatives and improved waste collection systems would be more effective solutions.
The association proposed a longer transition period and urged the government to postpone the implementation date to January 1, 2030, to allow businesses enough time to adjust and recover investments.
GPMA President Ebbo Botwe, who signed the statement, also expressed support for a ban on the importation of finished Styrofoam products beginning in 2027.
