{
  "id": 16796521,
  "title": "Styrofoam Ban Is On for January 1 – EPA Tells Traders as Campaign Reaches Northern Ghana",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/styrofoam-ban-is-on-for-january-1-epa-tells-traders-as-campaign",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T20:07:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/styrofoam-ban-is-on-for-january-1-epa-tells-traders-as-campaign-reaches-northern-ghana/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Ghana has announced a ban on polystyrene and styrofoam products, set to take effect on January 1, 2027. This ban was announced by President John Dramani Mahama in June, driven by concerns over health and environmental issues. The campaign to promote awareness of the ban is being led by the EPA's Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, and is currently reaching five regions in Northern Ghana.\n\nDr. Frederick Ofori-Nuako, the Deputy Director of Environmental Education at the EPA, spoke about the campaign's progress and its various components during an appearance on GTV's Breakfast Show. The campaign kicked off with a float through town, featuring EPA staff distributing flyers and placards with key messages about the ban. The team has been visiting cities, homes, and markets, actively engaging with market women and traders to ensure maximum awareness.\n\nThe campaign includes one-on-one engagements with market women and traders, as well as quiz competitions and debates among university students. The final phase of the campaign will be a grand durbar in Tamale, featuring EPA offices from Damongo and surrounding areas, alongside management and headquarters staff from Accra. This event aims to reinforce the message of the ban and encourage public participation.\n\nOne of the main points highlighted by Dr. Ofori-Nuako is the availability of alternative packaging options that are biodegradable and less harmful to the environment. These alternatives include plantain leaves, paper cups, paper plates, paper bags, calabash, ceramic bowls, and aluminum foil. He emphasized that styrofoam, a type of polystyrene made from petroleum, is a single-use product that poses significant health risks when used for hot food, potentially causing cancer and kidney problems. Moreover, styrofoam waste contributes to flooding and poor sanitation, as it clogs drains and floats in floodwaters.\n\nThe EPA has already engaged key players in the supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, and traders in various markets across Ghana, such as Makola, Tema Station, and Agbogbloshie. Dr. Ofori-Nuako assured traders that the EPA does not intend to disrupt their livelihoods, as the primary concern is the health impact of styrofoam usage. He called on chiefs, family elders, and opinion leaders to join the fight against polystyrene pollution, citing Rwanda as an example of a country that has successfully eliminated styrofoam products and enjoys a clean environment.",
  "summary": "By Owusu Emmanuella Akoto The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says the ban on polystyrene and styrofoam products will take effect on January 1, 2027, as it takes its public education campaign to five regions in Northern Ghana. The Deputy Director of Environmental Education at the EPA, Dr. Frederick Ofori-Nuako, said this on GTV’s Breakfast Show, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}