The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology has rejected a plea by the Ghana Plastic Manufacturers Association to reconsider the planned ban on use of light plastics from November 1, 2015.

The ministry announced the planned ban on use of light plastics less 20 microns in weight three months ago, as part of measures to deal with poor sanitation in the country.

Last two weeks, the plastic manufacturers association sent a petition to government not to enforce the ban, promising they will add biodegradable materials to the light plastics.

The association says this move will make the ban no longer necessary, because the plastics will decompose after some time. The manufacturers are also worried the ban will deny most Ghanaians the opportunity of using a cheaper way of packaging food items like gari and groundnut.

But the ministry is bent on enforcing the directive. “The petition is receiving technical consideration, but come November 1 2015, the directive is going to be enforced. If a producer has a concern, that will be handled on individual basis,” Head of Public Relations at the Ministry Alhaji Zackari Musah told Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo.

He says government expects the producers to comply with the directive, adding the ministry will establish a taskforce to go round and monitor the work of the plastic producers.

“If we want to talk about postponing it… trust me, if they want up to November ending or December ending, the date will come and there will still be stories,” Alhaji Musah said in response to calls by the plastic manufacturers for the November 1 deadline to be re-looked at.