EPA Mandates Immediate Halt to Unpermitted Reclamation and Dredging Nationwide
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a stringent directive ordering the immediate cessation of all land reclamation, dredging, and environmental restoration projects operating without requisite environmental permits. This decisive action underscores a growing concern within the Authority regarding the proliferation of unauthorised activities lacking essential regulatory oversight.
In a statement released on October 14, 2026, the EPA explicitly instructed all operators engaged in reclamation, dredging, rehabilitation, or restoration activities without a valid environmental permit to cease operations with immediate effect. Affected parties have been directed to report to the nearest EPA Regional Office or the Head Office for immediate regulatory assessment.
This comprehensive order encompasses a wide spectrum of activities, including the rehabilitation of mining sites, backfilling of excavated areas, restoration of abandoned mining locations, river dredging and desilting, and projects impacting wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. The directive applies equally to both public and private sector initiatives, including those funded by government bodies and international donor organisations.
The EPA has issued a stern warning that operators who defy this order and continue unauthorised work will face rigorous enforcement actions in strict accordance with Ghanaian law. While the Authority acknowledges the critical importance of restoring land and water bodies degraded by illegal and irresponsible mining practices, it emphatically states that all such restoration efforts must adhere to established environmental regulations. The EPA cautioned that the urgency of environmental restoration should not be exploited as a pretext to bypass established safeguards, highlighting the potential for poorly regulated activities to inflict further environmental damage.
