Tema: The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a call to industries, emphasizing the importance of strictly adhering to the conditions attached to the environmental permits provided by the Authority.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Samuel Oteng, the Greater Accra East (Tema) Regional Director of the EPA, highlighted that despite the clear conditions included in the permits, many industries neglect to comply, with some failing to even review the stipulated requirements. Speaking at the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Tema Regional Annual General Meeting, Mr. Oteng stressed that the conditions are based on assessments conducted for the permit's issuance. He urged industry management not only to comply but also to make sure that these conditions are visible and understood by staff to ensure compliance.
The meeting, themed 'Creating a Conducive Business Environment for Industrial Competitiveness: 24-Hour in Perspective,' served as a platform for Mr. Oteng to caution that non-compliance and failure to renew permits before expiration could lead to sanctions. He explained the permit process, which begins with submitting an application for environmental assessment. This application must include relevant documents like a site plan and block plan. An EPA team then conducts a site inspection to verify the application details, consults with nearby residents, and follows other steps before issuing a permit upon completion and payment.
Addressing air pollution, Mr. Oteng noted that the Air Quality Management Regulations have banned open burning in Ghana, declaring it an offense punishable by law. He mentioned the EPA's ongoing discussions with metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to leverage their structures in implementing the ban to prevent pollution from open burning in communities.
During an open forum session, participants raised questions regarding the environmental permit's duration, industry classification, and various types of pollution and their management.
