The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Limited over alleged violations of its environmental permit and sustained emissions of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.
In a closure notice dated September 14, 2026, and signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the Authority said its investigations followed several public complaints about alleged air pollution and nuisance arising from the company’s operations.
According to the EPA, its investigations revealed sustained emissions of visible particulate matter, gases and other pollutants from the company’s operations, with implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health.
The Authority also accused Empire Cement of failing to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns, contrary to Condition 9.1 of its environmental permit, identified as EPA/MID/EMP/CU 859/25/1013/01/0042947.
The EPA further said the company had failed to implement key conditions of its environmental permit relating to air pollution control.
These include the installation of appropriate state-of-the-art pollution-control systems on all pollution discharge units to meet the requirements of the Ghana Standard for Environment and Health Protection—Requirements for Ambient Air Quality and Point Source/Stack Emissions (GS 1236:2019).
The Authority also cited alleged failures to keep existing pollution-control systems and auxiliary equipment in good working condition and to effectively maintain dust-control plants to prevent or minimise emissions into the external environment.
The EPA said the pollution-control systems were also required to function at all times to ensure compliance with the applicable emissions standards.
Based on the findings, the Authority said Empire Cement was in breach of Conditions 5.1(1)(a), 5.1(1)(h)(i), 5.1(1)(h)(iv) and 9.1 of the schedule to its environmental permit.
The company has been directed to submit its outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns by October 1, 2026.
It has also been ordered to install appropriate state-of-the-art air pollution-control systems and ensure that existing systems and auxiliary equipment are in good working condition and capable of meeting the permissible limits under GS 1236:2019.
In addition, the EPA directed the company to undertake stakeholder engagement with the affected community on the impacts of its operations and proposed mitigation measures, with a report to be submitted to the Authority.
Empire Cement has also been instructed to notify the EPA upon completion of the installation of the new pollution-control systems to allow for inspection and further regulatory action.
The Authority stressed that the company may only resume operations after the required pollution-control systems have been installed, the facility meets the GS 1236:2019 emissions standards, and written permission to resume operations has been granted by the EPA.
The EPA warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in further enforcement measures, including administrative penalties and other regulatory sanctions under applicable law.
The closure notice was copied to the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, the Chief Executive of the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly, the Director of the EPA Greater Accra West Region and the Head of the EPA Weija Area Office.
Source:www.kumasimail.com
