Businesses or enterprises operating in Ghana are required under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (LI 2504) to operate with valid environmental permits or licences.
The Environmental Protection Authority, in a statement, reminded that it is an offence to operate without a valid Environmental Permit or Licence and with an Expired Environmental Permit or Licence.
The Authority intends to intensify its routine environmental enforcement, monitoring, and inspection activities nationwide to ensure full compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulatory requirements.
It therefore urged all regulated entities to take immediate steps to regularise their environmental compliance by visiting the nearest EPA office to commence or complete the permitting and compliance process.
“Failure to comply with this notice shall attract the appropriate sanctions, including administrative penalties, fines, closure, or prosecution, as prescribed under the applicable environmental laws. “
Activities covered under the special compliance exercise include:
1. Manufacturing (Wood Processing, Oxygen Gas, Food Processing, Fruits and Beverages/Sachet/Bottled Water, Roofing Sheets, Soap, Herbal Products, Block/Concrete production, Bitumen Emulsion, Pharmaceuticals, Spring and Bolts, Shoe Production, Aluminium products, etc.)
2. Energy (Fuel & Gas Service Stations, Fuel Depots/Dumps, Solar Power Production of more than 2 Megawatts) 3. Tourism and Hospitality (Hotels, Hostels, Guest Houses, Lodges, Restaurants, Bars/Spots/Pubs, Recreational Centres, Event Centres, Resorts)
4. General Construction (Roads, Water/Waste Treatment Plants, Warehouses, Stores, Shops, Offices, Shopping Malls, All Banks & Financial Institutions, Auto Garage/Showroom, Apartments, Waste oil & Scrap Metal facilities, Spraying Shops, Schools, Churches, Mosque, Washing Bay, Spare Part Dealer, Cold Stores, Truck Yard, etc.)
5. Health (Hospital, Clinic, Laboratory, Diagnostic Centre, Dental Clinic, Mortuary, Ultrasound and Scan centres, Fitness & Social Centre, Herbal Clinic, Optical Centre, Maternity Centre, etc.)
6. Agriculture (>40 hectares) -Poultry, Piggery, Aquaculture, Wildlife and Forestry activities)
7. Chemical & Pesticides Activities (Importation, Manufacturing, Formulation, Wholesale, Distribution, Warehousing, Retailing, and Application)
8. Communication Masts (Mast by the Telecoms, including Televisions and FM Station Masts)
9. Mining (Large-scale mining, small-scale mining, Quarry and Sand Winning)
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com