The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says it is putting in place a robust legal and regulatory framework to enforce Ghana’s nationwide ban on Styrofoam, popularly used for takeaway food packaging.
The new measures will include import restrictions, confiscation of banned products, and penalties for businesses that fail to comply once the ban takes effect.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Friday, June 26, the Acting Director for Sustainability and Circular Economy at the EPA, Larry Kotoe, said the Authority is strengthening enforcement mechanisms to ensure the policy is effectively implemented from the country’s entry points.
According to him, the legal framework currently being developed will clearly outline enforcement powers, penalties, and sanctions, including fines and the seizure of prohibited products.
“We are currently putting together the legal framework to back the policy direction. So definitely by December we should have the regulation clearly specifying the penalties and then also some of the enforcement powers that will come with it. Obviously you may have to confiscate and there will be fines as well,” he said.
Mr. Kotoe explained that the EPA is working closely with the national import control system (ICOPS) to monitor the importation of Styrofoam products and their raw materials.
He said the Authority is using Harmonised System (HS) codes to identify and block both finished polystyrene takeaway packs and the raw materials used in local production, ensuring the ban covers the entire supply chain.
According to him, import restrictions could begin between September and December 2026, ahead of the full enforcement of the ban in January 2027.
The EPA added that it has already started engaging importers and other stakeholders to gather information on import cycles and ensure a smooth transition before the ban comes into force.
