The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has directed Empire Cement Ghana Limited to submit a comprehensive relocation plan for its cement grinding and bagging facility located within the environmentally sensitive Densu Delta Ramsar Site.
In a directive dated October 28, 2026, the Authority gave the company 30 days to submit a detailed relocation strategy and an operational transition plan outlining how it intends to move the facility away from the protected wetland.
The directive, signed by EPA Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, also reaffirmed that a closure notice issued to the company on September 14, 2026, remains in force until the required compliance measures are fully met.
According to the EPA, the directive follows longstanding regulatory concerns about the facility’s location, particularly its proximity to residential communities, Panbros Salt Industries Limited and the ecologically sensitive Densu Delta Ramsar Site.
The Densu Delta Ramsar Site is a protected wetland of international importance, making its conservation essential for environmental protection and biodiversity preservation.
Background to the EPA directive
The EPA’s action follows earlier regulatory concerns about the location and operations of Empire Cement’s facility at Weija, near residential communities and the Densu Delta Ramsar Site. In June 2020, the Authority reportedly directed the company to halt construction and identify an alternative location, citing concerns about the suitability of the site for the proposed industrial activity.
Subsequent environmental assessments raised concerns about potential public health risks, flooding and the movement of heavy-duty vehicles through surrounding communities. In September 2026, the EPA ordered the company to shut down its operations following investigations into complaints about air pollution and alleged breaches of its environmental permit.
The Authority cited concerns including visible particulate matter and gas emissions, failure to submit required environmental monitoring reports, and shortcomings in the installation and maintenance of pollution-control systems.
Although Empire Cement obtained an environmental permit in October 2023, the EPA said the permit required the company to submit a decommissioning plan and relocate before the permit expired. The conditions were reportedly varied in January 2024 following ministerial intervention, but the Authority maintained that key concerns remained unresolved.
The latest directive forms part of the EPA’s efforts to enforce environmental regulations and prevent industrial activities from threatening protected wetlands. The Authority has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Ramsar sites against encroachment and industrial pollution, stressing that businesses operating in environmentally sensitive areas must comply with established regulations.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa