The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has directed Empire Cement Ghana Limited to submit a comprehensive relocation plan for its cement grinding and bagging facility situated near the environmentally sensitive Densu Delta Ramsar Site.
In a directive dated October 28, 2026, the EPA gave the company 30 days to present a detailed relocation strategy and operational transition plan. The notice, signed by the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, also reaffirmed that the Closure Notice issued on September 14, 2026, remains in force.
The directive follows years of regulatory concerns over the cement plant’s location, including its proximity to residential communities, Panbros Salt Industries Limited and the protected Densu Delta Ramsar wetland.
EPA Raises Environmental and Public Health Concerns
According to the EPA, concerns about Empire Cement’s operations date back to June 2020, when the Authority ordered the company to suspend construction and identify an alternative location because the proposed industrial activity was incompatible with the surrounding land use.
Subsequent environmental assessments reportedly raised concerns about the suitability of large-scale cement manufacturing in the area.
The identified risks included potential public health impacts, flooding and the movement of heavy-duty trucks through nearby communities.
Although Empire Cement obtained an environmental permit in October 2023, the permit required the company to submit a decommissioning plan and relocate before the permit expired.
The EPA stated that the permit conditions were revised in January 2024 following ministerial intervention. However, the Authority maintained that the underlying concerns relating to environmental protection, public safety and heavy-vehicle traffic had not been resolved.
Petitions submitted by residents’ associations in the Weija-Gbawe area to the President and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology also contributed to renewed calls for regulatory action.
EPA Sets Requirements for Empire Cement Relocation
Citing Section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), the EPA has outlined several requirements that Empire Cement must fulfil as part of its relocation process.
Within 30 days, the company is expected to submit a comprehensive plan covering potential industrial sites, implementation timelines, operational transition arrangements and measures to protect its workforce.
The company must also identify a suitable alternative location within a designated industrial zone and obtain the necessary environmental permits and land-use approvals.
These requirements include undertaking the appropriate environmental impact assessments before establishing operations at the new site.
Additionally, Empire Cement must collaborate with the EPA and relevant state institutions to develop an enforceable timetable for shutting down the existing facility and rehabilitating the affected land.
Closure Notice Remains in Force
The EPA has directed Empire Cement to continue complying with the environmental safeguards and pollution-control requirements stipulated in its existing permit and the Closure Notice throughout the transition period.
The Authority warned that any unauthorised resumption of operations while the Closure Notice remains active could result in sanctions under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025.
The development highlights the importance of environmental compliance, responsible industrial development and the protection of communities located near manufacturing facilities.
The relocation process will be closely watched by residents, environmental stakeholders and businesses operating around the Densu Delta Ramsar Site as the EPA seeks to address concerns about industrial activity in the environmentally sensitive area.
Source: newsthemegh.com