EPA shuts down Empire Cement over alleged environmental breaches

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate closure of Empire Cement Ghana Limited following alleged breaches of its environmental permit and continued emissions of pollutants from its operations.

The directive follows investigations by the EPA after the Authority received several complaints from the public concerning alleged air pollution and nuisance associated with the company’s activities.

In a closure notice to the Managing Director of Empire Cement Ghana Limited, the EPA said its investigations had established “sustained emission of visible particulate/gaseous emissions/pollutants from your operations”, posing implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health.

The notice, signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, also accused the company of failing to submit quarterly environmental monitoring returns as required under the terms of its environmental permit.

The Authority said the company had further failed to meet several permit conditions governing the installation, operation and maintenance of systems designed to control pollution.

Among the breaches cited was the failure to install “appropriate State-of-the-Art pollution Control Systems on all pollution discharge units” to ensure compliance with the Ghana Standard for Environment and Health Protection, GS 1236:2019.

The EPA also said the pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment already in place were not being adequately maintained to effectively reduce air pollution and keep emissions within permissible limits.

It further cited inadequate maintenance of dust plants and an alleged failure to ensure that pollution control systems remained operational at all times.

Based on its findings, the Authority concluded that Empire Cement had breached several conditions attached to its environmental permit.

“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 No. EPA/MID/EMP/CU 859/25/1013/01/0042947 and hereby direct you to shut down the factory operations with immediate effect,” the notice stated.

The EPA has set out a number of conditions that the company must satisfy before it can resume operations.

Empire Cement has been directed to submit all outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns by October 1, 2026.

The company must also install appropriate state-of-the-art air pollution control systems capable of ensuring compliance with the GS 1236:2019 emissions standards and ensure that its existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment are maintained in good working condition.

The EPA further instructed the company to engage members of the affected community on the environmental impact of its operations and measures being implemented to address them. A report on the engagement is to be submitted to the Authority.

Empire Cement must also notify the EPA after installing the required pollution control systems to allow the Authority to conduct an inspection.

The closure notice makes clear that the company cannot reopen until the required systems have been installed and written approval has been granted by the EPA.

“Note that the company can only start operations upon installation of State-of-the Art Air Pollution Control Systems that will meet the emissions standards of the GS 1236:2019 and written permission from the Authority,” the EPA said.

The Authority warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in additional enforcement action, including administrative penalties and other regulatory sanctions under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), applicable laws and the conditions of the company’s environmental permit.