Plastic Industry cautions against hasty styrofoam ban

Mr. Ebbo Botwe is the President of the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Ghana. He has called for more consultation and dialogue. This follows President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement about banning Styrofoam in Ghana.

Mr. Botwe urged policymakers to engage stakeholders properly. He emphasized the need to understand the plastic sector before making decisions.

President Mahama announced the ban on June 5th. This was during the launch of the 2025 national tree planting initiative. He highlighted reforestation and environmental stewardship as critical issues.

The President described Styrofoam as a major pollutant. He stressed the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to it.

In response, Mr. Botwe spoke to Citi FM about pollution concerns. He argued that many views on Styrofoam are misinformed.

He explained that Styrofoam contains only 4% to 5% plastic. The rest is air, making it mostly air-based material.

Mr. Botwe noted that improper disposal makes it an eyesore. However, its actual plastic content is minimal.

He advocated for a comprehensive approach to plastic waste management. This includes improving waste management systems and recycling infrastructure.

Public awareness is also crucial in this effort, he added. Simply banning products without addressing systemic issues could lead to problems for local industries and consumers.

Mr. Botwe mentioned that his association will meet with the Minister for Environment soon. This meeting is scheduled between June 16th and 20th.

He aims to provide a detailed overview of the plastic industry during this meeting. Mr. Botwe stressed the importance of data-backed decisions for effective policymaking.