About EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in Ghana. It's our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world. We have more than 30 years of history behind us. We have offices across Ghana working on and carrying out Government policy, inspecting and regulating businesses and reacting when there is an emergency such as a pollution incident. A 13-member board of directors, appointed by the President of Ghana, supervises our operations. However, the management of our day-to-day operations is directly under an Executive Director and seven divisional heads (Directors).

EPA's Vision

An Agency dedicated to continuously improving and conserving the countryfs environment. A country in which all sections of the community value the environment and strive to attain environmentally sustainable development, with sound and efficient resource management, taking into account social and equity issues.

EPA's Mission

The Mission of the EPA is to co-manage, protect and enhance the countryfs environment in particular as well as seek common solutions to global environmental problems.

The mission of the Agency is generally to be achieved through an integrated environmental planning and management system established on a broad based public participation, efficient implementation of appropriate programmes and technical services; giving good council on environmental problems as well as effective and consistent enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. The EPA is an implementing agency, a regulatory body and catalyst for change towards sound environmental stewardship.

EPA's Corporate Objectives

EPA seeks to:

• - Create awareness to mainstream environment into the development process at the national, regional, district and community levels;
• - Ensure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and consistent with the countryfs desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental quality;
• - Ensure environmentally sound and efficient use of both renewable and nonrenewable resources in the process of national development;
• - Guide development to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and actions that lower the quality of life;
• - To apply the legal processes in a fair, equitable manner to ensure responsible environmental behaviour in the country;
• - Continuously improve EPAfs performance to meet changing environmental trends and community aspirations;
• - Encourage and reward a commitment by all EPA staff to a culture based on continuous improvement and on working in partnership with all members of the Ghanaian community

Statutory Functions of EPA

EPA is established by law, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490). Under Act 490 the functions of the Agency are to:

• (a) Advise the Minister on the formulation of policies on all aspects of the environment and in particular make recommendations for the protection of the environment;
• (b) Co-ordinate the activities of bodies concerned with technical or practical aspects of the environment and serve as a channel of communication between such bodies and the Ministry;
• (c) Co-ordinate the activities of such bodies as it considers appropriate for the purposes of controlling the generation, treatment, storage, transportation and disposal of industrial waste;
• (d) Secure in collaboration with such persons as it may determine, the control and prevention of discharge of waste into the environment and the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment;
• (e) Collaborate with such foreign and international agencies as the Agency considers necessary for the purposes of this Act;
• (f) Issue environmental permits and pollution abatement notices for controlling the volume, types, constituents and effects of waste discharges, emissions, deposits or other source of pollutants and of substances which are hazardous or potentially dangerous to the quality of the environment or any segment of the environment;
• (g) Issue notices in the form of directives, procedures or warnings to such bodies as it may determine for the purpose of controlling the volume, intensity and quality of noise in the environment;
• (h) Prescribe standards and guidelines relating to the pollution of air, water, land and other forms of environmental pollution including the discharge of wastes and the control of toxic substances;
• (i) Ensure compliance with any laid down environmental impact assessment procedures in the planning and execution of development projects, including compliance in respect of existing projects;
• (j) Act in liaison and co- operation with government agencies, District Assemblies and other bodies and institutions to control pollution and generally protect the environment;
• (k) Conduct investigations into environmental issues and advise the Minister;
• (l) Promote studies, research, surveys and analyses for the improvement and protection of the environment and the maintenance of sound ecological systems in Ghana;
• (m) Initiate and pursue formal and non-formal education programmes for the creation of public awareness of the environment and its importance to the economic and social life of the country;
• (n) Promote effective planning in the management of the environment;
• (o) Develop a comprehensive database on the environment and environmental protection for information of the public;
• (p) Conduct seminars and training programmes and gather and publish reports and information relating to the environment;
• (q) Impose and collect environmental protection levies in accordance with this Act or regulations made under this Act;
• (r) Co-ordinate with such international agencies as the Agency considers necessary for the purpose of this Act; and
• (s) Perform any other functions conferred on it under the Act

EPA Regional Offices

We have offices in all the 10 administrative regions of Ghana. However, the Greater Accra Region has been divided into Accra West and Accra East due to concentration of Industries and other activities in the region. Likewise a zonal office has been created in the Western Region at Tarkwa due to the numerous mining activities in that area. These Regional Offices are:

• - EPA Ashanti
• - EPA Brong Ahafo
• - EPA Central
• - EPA Eastern
• - EPA Accra East
• - EPA Accra West
• - EPA Northern
• - EPA Upper East
• - EPA Upper West
• - EPA Volta
• - EPA Western
• - EPA Tarkwa