Omanghana
Former Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Chief Executive Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu says the closure of Empire Cement Ghana Limited’s factory at Weija confirms environmental concerns raised by the regulator years ago.
He said the action highlights the need for industries to obtain environmental clearance before setting up and beginning operations.
According to Dr. Kokofu, the regulatory action was anticipated long before the recent shutdown, but earlier attempts to address concerns were complicated by legal disputes and community agitation.
Concerns Over Permit Process
The former EPA boss raised concerns about the sequence in which some developers obtain permits. He said developers sometimes secure building permits from municipal or district assemblies and begin construction before obtaining environmental approval.
He argued that this can make enforcement difficult once substantial investment has already been made.
Dr. Kokofu welcomed the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), which upgraded the agency to an authority. He said the law provides stronger enforcement powers and should help ensure that environmental considerations are addressed throughout the approval process.
Closure and Relocation Order
The factory’s closure follows years of concerns about its location and operations. An order was issued in June 2020 for construction to stop because of land-use concerns, but the directive was not followed.
A closure notice issued on September 14, 2026, cited air pollution, visible particulate emissions and the company’s failure to submit required environmental monitoring reports. The notice remains in force, and the facility is being monitored to prevent unauthorised operations.
On October 28, the EPA, led by Chief Executive Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, gave the company 30 days to submit a comprehensive decommissioning and relocation plan.
The authority has raised concerns about the factory’s proximity to residential communities, Panbros Salt Industries and the Densu Delta Ramsar Site.
Company’s Response
Empire Cement’s managing director has previously defended the factory, attributing a pollution incident to a broken hose that lasted about 30 minutes. He also said the illness of an officer contributed to delays in submitting reports.
The EPA, however, maintains that large-scale cement manufacturing is unsuitable for the Weija area. Government officials and environmental scientists are also working to assess potential health risks associated with the plant’s operations.
Source: Omanghana
