The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced the launch of its 2025 compliance enforcement exercise in September, targeting six districts in the Volta Region, including Keta Municipal, Akatsi South Municipal, Anloga, South Tongu, North Tongu, and Central Tongu.
The initiative aims to ensure strict adherence to Ghana’s environmental laws, including the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652), and other relevant regulations governing waste management, hazardous materials, and environmental fees.
Speaking on the exercise, Mr. Derick Ashia Logo, Area Head of the EPA Sogakope Office, stressed that the authority has already conducted extensive community sensitisation, radio awareness campaigns, and stakeholder engagements to educate operators on compliance requirements.
“Notices have been served to facilities at risk of closure, and multiple reminders have been issued to ensure operators understand their obligations. Any undertaking operating without a valid permit or in violation of license conditions will face sanctions,” Mr. Logo said.
He clarified that the exercise is not intended as a revenue collection initiative, but rather a measure to enforce environmental standards. According to Mr. Logo, proper regulation is critical to addressing challenges such as improper waste management, misuse of agrochemicals, air and noise pollution, flooding, and illegal sand winning.
The EPA has urged both government and privately owned facilities in the six districts to take urgent steps to regularise operations at the Sogakope Area Office, warning that non-compliance will result in closures and legal prosecution.
Mr. Logo concluded: “We have gone the extra mile with public education and stakeholder engagement. Enforcement is the next step for those who fail to meet their environmental obligations.”
