The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered Empire Cement Ghana Limited to shut down its factory operations with immediate effect over alleged breaches of its environmental permit conditions.
The directive follows investigations into alleged air pollution and nuisance from the company’s operations after the EPA received several public complaints.
The EPA said its investigations found sustained emissions of visible particulate and gaseous pollutants from the company’s operations, with implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health.
The Authority also said Empire Cement had failed to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns as required under its environmental permit.
According to the EPA, the company had also failed to install appropriate state-of-the-art pollution control systems on all pollution discharge units and had not adequately maintained its existing pollution control systems and dust plants.
The Authority said these failures amounted to breaches of several conditions of the company’s Environmental Permit.
“Based on the above, the Authority finds Empire Cement Ghana Ltd in breach of sections 5.1(a), 5.1(h)(i), 5.1(h)(iv) and 9.1 of the Schedule to Environmental Permit,” the EPA stated.
It therefore directed the company to shut down its factory operations immediately until it takes steps to address the breaches.
Among the requirements is for Empire Cement to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns in line with the conditions of its permit by October 1, 2026.
See full statement below;
