The Effutu Municipal Assembly has stepped up public education on Ghana’s impending ban on polystyrene products, with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah, leading a high-profile sensitisation walk through the principal business streets of Winneba.The exercise, organised in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), was aimed at preparing traders, food vendors, drivers, consumers and residents for the nationwide ban on the importation, manufacture, sale and use of polystyrene products, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The campaign brought together officials of the Effutu Municipal Assembly and the EPA, personnel of the Ghana Police Service, traders, members of the public and media practitioners.Beginning from the forecourt of the Municipal Assembly, the team moved through major commercial areas of Winneba, distributing educational flyers and engaging the public with banners and placards. The sensitisation culminated at the main Lorry Station, where the MCE and other officials addressed traders, drivers, passengers and residents.Addressing the gathering at the lorry station, Rev. Atta Mensah urged residents and businesses to begin preparing for the ban rather than wait until the enforcement date. He explained that polystyrene foam products, popularly known as “take-away packs”, pose significant environmental challenges because of their persistence in the environment and their tendency to accumulate in drains and waterways. According to him, indiscriminate disposal of the products contributes to blocked drains, flooding and general environmental degradation, issues that continue to affect communities across Ghana.The MCE therefore encouraged traders, food vendors and consumers to gradually transition to environmentally friendly alternatives, including reusable food containers, paper-based packaging, aluminium foil, calabashes and other appropriate biodegradable materials.Rev. Mensah also used the occasion to draw attention to the need for collective responsibility in keeping Winneba clean. He said the success of the policy would depend not only on enforcement by government agencies but also on the willingness of businesses and members of the public to change their consumption and waste-disposal practices.The MCE further cautioned traders and businesses to take the January 1, 2027 deadline seriously, noting that persons who continue to deal in prohibited products after the ban comes into force could face sanctions under the applicable environmental regulations. These measures, as outlined during the campaign, could include seizure of prohibited products, fines and possible prosecution, depending on the applicable provisions.The message was reinforced by officials of the EPA, who stressed the importance of early compliance and public education before the enforcement phase begins.The EPA team, led by Mr. Daud Abass, Kasoa Area Head, provided additional education on the environmental and potential health concerns associated with polystyrene products. Officials explained that the products do not readily biodegrade and can persist in the environment for extended periods, contributing to waste-management challenges when improperly discarded. The campaign also drew attention to concerns surrounding the use of polystyrene containers for serving hot food, with the public encouraged to consider safer and more sustainable packaging options.The EPA’s Winneba District Office, working with the Kasoa Area Office, said continued collaboration with the Assembly and other stakeholders would be necessary to ensure that the public is adequately informed before the ban takes effect.While the sensitisation exercise was generally well received, some traders and food vendors raised concerns about the cost and availability of alternative packaging materials.Others admitted that they were previously unaware of the exact date on which the ban would take effect and the sanctions that could follow non-compliance.The concerns have highlighted the importance of sustained engagement between regulators, local authorities, businesses and suppliers of alternative packaging materials ahead of January 2027. Stakeholders also called for measures to encourage the availability of affordable alternatives so that small-scale food vendors and traders are not disproportionately affected by the transition.The Ghana Police Service also participated in the exercise, underscoring the need for cooperation among relevant institutions as the country moves from public education to enforcement.The Effutu campaign forms part of broader efforts to prepare the public for the implementation of the national polystyrene ban. For the Assembly, however, the sensitisation walk represents more than a one-day public education exercise. It is also part of a broader environmental sanitation agenda aimed at encouraging behavioural change and strengthening public responsibility for waste management.The Assembly plans to undertake follow-up sensitisation activities before January 1, 2027, while strengthening collaboration with the EPA and the Ghana Police Service for monitoring and enforcement once the ban becomes effective.Officials also stressed the need to extend the education campaign to other markets and communities within the municipality and to encourage local businesses to make affordable alternatives readily available.With Rev. Atta Mensah leading the campaign from the Assembly’s forecourt through the busy commercial streets of Winneba to the main lorry station, the message was clear: the transition away from polystyrene must begin before the ban takes effect. The Effutu Municipal Assembly has therefore renewed its commitment to building a cleaner and healthier municipality through sustained environmental education, responsible waste management and collaboration with businesses and residents.As the January 1, 2027 deadline approaches, the Assembly’s challenge will be to convert public awareness into sustained behavioural change ensuring that the streets, drains and waterways of Winneba are not only cleaner during the campaign, but remain cleaner long after it.
Story By: Charles Baah Aboagye, Samuel Ghunney & Corrita AffulPicture Credit: Emmanuel Agosu ISD-Effutu Municipal Assembly
Last modified: October 1, 2026
