The Deputy Acting Chief Executive Officer of Operations at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo, has advised the government to adopt a more measured approach to President John Dramani Mahama’s proposed ban on styrofoam use and production.
His remarks follow the president’s recent announcement of an imminent ban to curb environmental pollution caused by non-biodegradable plastics.
Speaking on Citi FM on Monday, 9th June, Professor Ayamga-Adongo acknowledged the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution but warned that a hasty implementation of the ban could severely impact livelihoods and disrupt economic systems that depend on such materials.
He argued that a phase-out must be informed by the availability and effective deployment of viable alternatives.
“I have heard some people say that within two or three years, we should do away with plastics. I am not too keen on giving dates because when you are talking about these things, you are talking about livelihoods and economic systems dependent on this,” he explained.
“You need to look at the alternatives that are available. How quickly can they be rolled out? How can we ensure that taking away this does not endanger people?”
The EPA official cited sachet water as an example, cautioning that an abrupt ban on plastics could deprive rural communities of safe drinking water.
“Take sachet water for example, if you take them away, you are going to expose some rural areas to unhygienic water because it is a solution somewhere, so when we are withdrawing something, we need to think of what alternatives exist,” he noted.
Despite his caution, Professor Ayamga-Adongo emphasised that the president’s proposal offers an opportunity for innovation and transformation.
He suggested that the policy, if managed thoughtfully, could catalyse the development of sustainable packaging and open new economic pathways that align with Ghana’s environmental and developmental goals.
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