The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s new environmental directives as a timely step toward sustainability, but has called for thoughtful implementation to ensure long-term benefits.

Announced on World Environment Day 2025, the President’s directive includes phasing out the use of wood in school furniture and banning the production and importation of styrofoam packaging.

These measures are aimed at curbing deforestation and tackling the country’s mounting plastic waste crisis.

According to the CCCFS, these policies align with its long-standing advocacy for sustainable materials, circular economy practices, and responsible public procurement.

Speaking after the announcement, CCCFS Deputy Director of Research and Environmental Economist, Dr Alexander Nti Kani, commended the initiative but stressed that “the success of this otherwise progressive initiative will depend not only on the materials used, but on how those materials are managed at the end of their use.”

As part of the directive, school desks will now be manufactured using recycled plastic or metal instead of wood — a move the CCCFS views as a positive shift in protecting Ghana’s forests. However, the Centre warned that without a robust end-of-life management system, these new materials could themselves become environmental hazards.

“Plastic recycling is, indeed, a deception,” Dr Kani reiterated, referencing CCCFS’s endorsement of the 2024 report "The Fraud of Plastic Recycling" by the Center for Climate Integrity. He argued that in countries like Ghana, where waste infrastructure is underdeveloped, recycling initiatives often fail to achieve their intended impact.

The CCCFS was also strongly supportive of the proposed ban on styrofoam, a non-biodegradable material widely criticised for clogging drains, polluting waterways, and harming wildlife. The Centre noted that the shift to paper and aluminium-based packaging aligns with this year’s global World Environment Day theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution.”

Despite the enthusiasm, CCCFS has urged the government to ensure that the directives are backed by sound policy frameworks and operational strategies. The Centre outlined eight key recommendations:

1. Enact enforceable legislation to formalise these environmental policy shifts.
2. Develop a national product stewardship framework for managing end-of-life school furniture.
3. Partner with local recyclers and manufacturers to create effective take-back and reuse systems.
4. Support affected manufacturers and artisans to transition to sustainable production methods.
5. Set strict safety, health, and durability standards for recycled furniture materials.
6. Roll out public awareness campaigns to shift behaviours around plastic use.
7. Promote community education on waste management and circular economy principles.
8. Ensure that any new materials used do not pose further environmental or public health risks.

“Plastic pollution is a systemic threat that infiltrates our food, water, and air,” CCCFS said in a statement. “Without engineered solutions and accountability, even well-intentioned alternatives can become burdens.”

The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government in crafting an effective transition strategy. “Ghana’s path to sustainability must be bold, but also transparent, strategic, and enduring,” Dr Kani said.