By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced a nationwide Special Environmental Compliance Enforcement and Monitoring Exercise, warning all regulated businesses and enterprises operating in Ghana to regularise their environmental permits or face sanctions.
In a public announcement dated January 8, 2026, the EPA said it is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504) for any undertaking to operate without a valid environmental permit or licence, with an expired permit or licence, or in breach of conditions attached to an environmental permit or licence.
The Authority cautioned that failure to comply with the directive will result in the imposition of necessary sanctions under applicable environmental laws. As part of the exercise, the EPA says it will intensify routine environmental enforcement, monitoring and inspection activities nationwide to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations.
All regulated entities have been directed to take immediate steps to regularise their environmental compliance by visiting the nearest EPA office to commence or complete the permitting and compliance process.
The EPA further noted that non-compliance will attract appropriate sanctions, including administrative penalties, fines, closure, or prosecution, as prescribed by law. It also clarified that all statutory fees or fines imposed under the exercise must be paid directly into designated EPA bank accounts or EPA mobile money wallets, stressing that cash payments are not accepted under any circumstances.
Activities Covered
The special compliance exercise covers a wide range of undertakings, including:
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, among others.
Energy: fuel and gas service stations, fuel depots/dumps, and solar power production above 2 megawatts.
Tourism and Hospitality: hotels, hostels, guest houses, lodges, restaurants, bars/spots/pubs, recreational centres, event centres, and resorts.
General Construction: roads, water/waste treatment plants, warehouses, stores, shops, offices, shopping malls, banks and financial institutions, auto garages/showrooms, apartments, waste oil and scrap metal facilities, spraying shops, schools, churches, mosques, washing bays, spare parts dealers, cold stores, truck yards, among others.
Health: hospitals, clinics, laboratories, diagnostic centres, dental clinics, mortuaries, ultrasound and scan centres, fitness and social centres, herbal clinics, optical centres, and maternity centres.
Agriculture (over 40 hectares): poultry, piggery, aquaculture, wildlife and forestry activities.
Chemical and Pesticides Activities: importation, manufacturing, formulation, wholesale, distribution, warehousing, retailing, and application.
Communication Masts: telecommunications masts, including television and FM station masts.
Mining: large-scale mining, small-scale mining, quarrying, and sand winning.
The announcement was signed by Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the EPA. The Authority advised regulated entities to contact the nearest EPA office for further information or clarification.
