No permit, no business – EPA Chief issues warning at Central Expo

The environment and business are inseparable, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has declared, warning that ecological ruin ultimately leads to commercial collapse.

Speaking as guest speaker at the opening of the 2026 Central Regional Trade, Tourism and Investment Fair (Central Expo) in Cape Coast on Monday, August 31, she urged business owners to seek EPA permits and guidelines to ensure their operations do not pollute the environment.

"We cannot survive without the environment," she said. "It is in the environment that we get the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. So we cannot take away the environment while we go about our businesses or daily activities."

She challenged entrepreneurs to assess their own impact: "Does your operation affect the air we breathe? Does it affect the water we drink and use? Does it affect the land we live on? If you are still not sure, get to the nearest EPA office, present your business idea, and the office will advise you on whether you need a permit and the type you require."

Professor Klutse also urged the public to consider the legacy they are leaving behind. "What kind of environment are we creating for the next 5, 10, or 20 years—for the generations that will come after us?" she asked.

She stressed that environmental protection is a collective responsibility and appealed to traditional leaders in the region to support the EPA's proposed ban on polystyrene foam products, which the Authority is promoting through a nationwide public awareness campaign. Officials at the Expo moved from stand to stand, educating exhibitors and patrons on the dangers of styrofoam while showcasing alternative materials.

Reflecting on the Fair's milestone, Professor Klutse noted that five years of Central Expo represents five years of commitment to promoting businesses, entrepreneurs, products, ideas, and opportunities. "This demonstrates what can happen when we create platforms that connect entrepreneurs with consumers, and business partners with ideas and opportunities," she said.

The Central Expo, now a major annual fixture at Adisadel College Park, brings together the 22 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies of the Central Region to showcase local businesses, agricultural produce, arts, crafts, and tourism potential.