By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Deputy Director of the Mining Department at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Dr. Patrick Essien, has described the government’s ban on polystyrene as a positive step that will help protect Ghana’s environment and reduce urban flooding.
Dr. Essien said the ban addresses a waste material that is contributing significantly to clogged drains in major cities, including Accra. He explained that polystyrene is lightweight and easily moves from disposal sites into drainage systems, even when people do not intentionally dump it there. Once in drains, the material blocks the flow of water and organic waste.
The EPA official noted on the GTV Breakfast Show that polystyrene is bulky and non-biodegradable, with a lifespan that can extend for centuries. As blockages build up, rainwater movement slows and water accumulates behind obstructions, a situation he linked to the severe flooding experienced in urban centres in recent years.
“This is not just a ban; it is an intervention aimed at saving our environment. Polystyrene is bulky, and when it enters drains, it blocks the flow of organic and biodegradable materials. As these blockages increase, the movement of rainwater slows down, causing water to accumulate behind the obstruction. This contributes significantly to flooding, which we have all witnessed in recent years,” he said.
Dr. Essien said starting the ban with Styrofoam and polystyrene products is a practical approach because alternatives already exist. He added that the policy could also stimulate innovation and encourage the development of environmentally friendly packaging substitutes.
He differentiated polystyrene from other plastics, such as water bottles, noting that recycling systems for some plastics are already in place and managing them to some extent. In contrast, he said Ghana currently has little or no effective system for recycling Styrofoam. Most of it ends up in the environment and remains there indefinitely.
The EPA official described the issue as urgent and linked it directly to the country’s flooding challenges, arguing that immediate action is needed. He said that while some countries have recycling systems for polystyrene, he has not confirmed how widespread those systems are, and Ghana currently lacks a local solution.
The government’s ban on polystyrene forms part of broader efforts to tackle plastic waste and improve drainage infrastructure in cities. Environmental groups have long campaigned against single-use polystyrene containers because of their impact on drains, waterways and wildlife.
