EPA ORDERS IMMEDIATE HALT TO UNAPPROVED RECLAMATION WORKS NATIONWIDE — GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CONTRACTORS ON NOTICE

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered an immediate halt to all land reclamation, mine-site rehabilitation, dredging and water-body restoration activities being undertaken without the requisite environmental permits across Ghana.

In a public notice issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Authority warned that institutions, companies, contractors and individuals operating without its approval must cease work immediately and report to the nearest EPA regional office or its head office for regulatory assessment.

The directive applies to both public and private projects, including government-sponsored, privately funded and donor-supported initiatives. The EPA specifically mentioned the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Commission, Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Minerals Commission and Mineral Development Fund among the institutions required to ensure compliance.

Under Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), reclamation and restoration activities fall within Ghana’s environmental assessment and permitting framework.

The covered activities include rehabilitating abandoned mining sites, backfilling excavated areas, restoring degraded land, revegetation, dredging and desilting rivers, modifying river channels and restoring polluted water bodies, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.

The Authority stressed that securing a contract, obtaining funding approval, holding a mining lease or receiving authorisation from another public institution does not replace an EPA Environmental Permit. Similarly, consent from traditional authorities, memoranda of understanding and participation in government programmes cannot substitute for the required approval.

Contracting institutions have also been directed to verify the environmental permit status of projects before allowing contractors to mobilise to their sites.

The EPA acknowledged the importance of restoring lands and water bodies damaged by illegal and irresponsible mining but cautioned that rehabilitation efforts must not create further environmental destruction by bypassing regulatory safeguards.

It warned that individuals and institutions that continue unapproved operations after the notice would face action in accordance with applicable Ghanaian laws.

The directive reinforces the Authority’s position that environmental restoration, regardless of its funding source or purpose, must comply with the country’s permitting requirements.