EPA: Empire Cement Ghana shut down over air pollution, monitoring breaches

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Limited following investigations into public complaints about air pollution from the company’s facility.

According to the EPA, its investigations identified sustained particulate and gaseous emissions from the facility.

The Authority also said the company had failed to submit required quarterly environmental monitoring returns and had not installed appropriate modern pollution control systems.

The EPA has directed Empire Cement Ghana Limited to halt all operations until it complies with applicable national environmental standards, addresses the impacts on affected communities and obtains written clearance from the Authority.

The shutdown follows public complaints that prompted the EPA’s investigations into the facility’s environmental performance.

The EPA said the action forms part of its mandate to enforce environmental standards and protect public health and the environment.