EPA orders immediate halt to unapproved land reclamation, mine-site restoration

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has directed all institutions, companies and individuals undertaking land reclamation, mine-site rehabilitation and water-body restoration without its approval to cease operations immediately.

The directive applies to both government-sponsored and privately funded projects, including those aimed at restoring lands and water bodies degraded by illegal mining.

In a public notice issued by its management and dated October 14, the EPA said the increasing number of reclamation, dredging and restoration activities being undertaken without the required Environmental Permit had raised serious concerns.

“The EPA reminds all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, State institutions, mining companies, contractors, traditional authorities, landowners, developers, investors, non-governmental organisations and individuals that reclamation or restoration undertaken by, commissioned by, funded by, supervised by or carried out on behalf of a public institution is not exempt from Ghana's environmental permitting requirements,” the notice stated in part.

The Authority said the directive is backed by Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), which places reclamation and restoration activities under Ghana's environmental assessment and permitting regime.

The activities covered include mine reclamation and rehabilitation, the restoration of degraded lands and abandoned mining sites, backfilling of excavated areas, revegetation, dredging and desilting of rivers, and the restoration of polluted water bodies and wetlands.

The EPA further clarified that the award of a contract, approval of funding, possession of a mining lease or licence, or authorisation from another public institution does not replace its statutory approval.

Institutions and contractors are therefore required to verify the status of their Environmental Permits before mobilising to project sites.

Entities already undertaking the activities without the required permits have been directed to report to the nearest EPA Regional Office or the Authority's Head Office for regulatory assessment.

The EPA said it supports efforts by the government and private entities to restore lands and water bodies damaged by illegal and irresponsible mining but stressed that such interventions must comply with environmental safeguards.

“The urgency to reclaim degraded lands cannot justify bypassing the environmental safeguards established to ensure that reclamation itself does not become another source of environmental destruction,” the notice added.