EPA cites air pollution, permit breaches in Empire Cement shutdown directive
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has moved to enforce the shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Ltd. at Weija in the Greater Accra Region over alleged air pollution breaches and violations of conditions attached to the company’s environmental permit.
The directive, contained in a notice dated 14 September 2026, follows complaints about alleged air pollution and nuisance linked to the company’s operations.
According to the EPA, its investigations found sustained emissions of visible particulate matter, gases and other pollutants from the factory, which it said had negative implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health.
The Authority also said Empire Cement had failed to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns, in breach of Condition 9.1 of its environmental permit.
The EPA further cited failures relating to the installation and maintenance of pollution control systems.
Under the permit, the company is required to install appropriate state-of-the-art pollution control systems on all pollution discharge units to ensure compliance with the Ghana Standard for Environment and Health Protection requirements for ambient air quality and point-source or stack emissions, GS 1236:2019.
The EPA said Empire Cement had breached that requirement, as well as conditions requiring the effective maintenance of pollution control systems, auxiliary equipment and dust plants.
It also found that the company had failed to ensure that its pollution control systems remained operational as required.
The Authority consequently said the company was in breach of Conditions 5.1(a), 5.1(h)(i), 5.1(h)(iv) and 9.1 of its environmental permit.
Conditions for resumption
The EPA has directed Empire Cement to submit its outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns by 1 October 2026.
The company has also been ordered to install appropriate air pollution control systems capable of ensuring compliance with GS 1236:2019.
It must further ensure that its existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment are in good working condition and that emissions remain within permissible limits for fence-line air quality and point-source or stack emissions.
The EPA said the measures must be implemented before the company can resume operations.
The latest action adds to a long-running regulatory dispute surrounding the Empire Cement facility at Weija.
In 2022, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said the EPA had initially determined that a proposal by Empire Cement to construct and operate a cement factory at the site was incompatible with adjoining land uses. The company subsequently applied to manufacture cement paper bags, for which the EPA issued a permit, but the Ministry said the agency later found that equipment had been installed to produce cement instead.
Empire Cement has previously disputed the EPA’s concerns and maintained that it had adopted technology intended to minimise environmental impacts.
