President John Mahama has announced his government’s intention to “soon” ban styrofoam, a popular food-packaging material in Ghana, via the Ministry of Environment.

He explained the ban will cover both manufacturing and importation of the material nicknamed ‘takeaway’, as he spoke on Thursday, June 5, during the launch of the 2025 National Tree Planting Exercise, a forestation initiative.

He observed the thin, transparent plastic often used to package Ghanaian favourites like porridge, banku and waakye was “one of the most pernicious polluters,” and was dumped on the street often after usage.

As a control measure, “we are going to ban the importation of styrofoam plastics,” he emphasised.

He advanced paper and aluminum foil as healthier alternatives to be promoted.

The 2025 National Tree Planting Exercise began today and ends on June 30.