Ghana Styrofoam and single‑use plastics ban

In late July 2026, the Ghana Medical Association, led by President Prof. Ernest Yorke, called on the government to broaden an existing phase‑out of Styrofoam to include all single‑use plastics. The association highlighted the health and environmental hazards of plastic waste, such as blocked drainage, flooding, and food‑safety risks, and urged accompanying measures like affordable alternatives, better waste collection, recycling, public education and stricter enforcement.

Two days later, Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority announced a formal proposal to ban Styrofoam products, with full enforcement slated for early 2027. The EPA’s plan was accompanied by six new environmental regulations covering assessment, effluent management, air quality, ozone protection, petroleum operations and air‑conditioner certification. Officials emphasized training, staffing and expanded district offices to ensure compliance. The sequence shows a rapid shift from civil‑society advocacy to concrete regulatory action aimed at curbing plastic pollution and its health impacts.