The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has delivered a stern warning to industries to stop neglecting the crucial conditions attached to their environmental permits, cautioning that failure to comply or renew permits will attract strict sanctions.
The charge was led by Greater Accra East (Tema) Regional Director of the EPA, Samuel Oteng, during his address at the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Tema Regional Annual General Meeting, held under the theme: “Creating a Conducive Business Environment for Industrial Competitiveness: 24-Hour in Perspective.”
Non-compliance and sanctions
Oteng expressed concern that despite the conditions being an integral part of the permit (developed from the environmental assessments) many industries disregard them, with some management personnel reportedly not even reading the stipulations.
”The conditions were created from the assessments carried out for the issuance of the permit,” Oteng stressed.
He advised that management must not only strictly adhere to the conditions but must also visibly display them on their premises and ensure all staff members are aware of and comply with them.
He highlighted that the EPA is prepared to enforce its mandate, noting that “violations of the conditions and failure to renew the permit before its expiration attract sanctions.”
Mandatory ban on open burning
In a significant update on air quality management, Samuel Oteng reminded the gathering that Ghana’s Air Quality Management Regulations have completely banned open burning, making it a punishable offense under the law.
He indicated that the EPA is actively collaborating with metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to leverage their local structures for the effective implementation of this ban, aiming to curb pollution from open burning within communities.
Streamlining the Permit Process
For the benefit of AGI members, Oteng outlined the step-by-step process for obtaining an environmental permit:
- Application Submission: The process begins with submitting an application for an environmental assessment, accompanied by essential documents such as a site plan and block plan.
- Site Inspection & Consultation: The EPA team conducts a site inspection to verify the application details, followed by consultation with neighbours.
- Permit Issuance: Once all preliminary steps and statutory requirements, including payment, are completed, the environmental permit is officially issued.
A leading voice for Ghanaian industries, CEO of AGI, Seth Twum-Akwaboah, emphasised that while recent improvements in the exchange rate are positive, the core difficulty for businesses remains the sustained stability of the cedi.
He stressed that predictability in the currency market is vital for industries to engage in proper planning and ensure long-term viability.
Speaking on the broader challenges facing the industrial sector, Twum-Akwaboah highlighted the urgent need to address issues such as value chain development and taxation alongside exchange rate volatility.
In particular, he noted that the frequent fluctuations create a high-risk environment, making local production and export strategies difficult to manage.
The industrial advocate further disclosed that certain companies experienced significant setbacks even during the period of cedi appreciation. He, therefore, issued a direct appeal to the government to identify and implement support measures for these distressed companies to help them remain operational.
Achieving long-term cedi stability, he concluded, is non-negotiable for businesses to thrive and contribute effectively to the national economy.
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Eben Agyekum-Boateng|3Business
