The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Ltd. at Weija in the Greater Accra Region over alleged breaches of environmental permit conditions and air pollution regulations.
The directive, contained in a notice dated September 14, 2026, follows several public complaints about alleged air pollution and nuisance associated with the company’s operations.
According to the EPA, its investigations established sustained emissions of visible particulate matter, gases and other pollutants from the factory.
The Authority said the emissions had “negative implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and the public health”.
The EPA also found that Empire Cement had failed to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns, in breach of Condition 9.1 of its environmental permit.
The company’s permit, numbered EPA/MID/EMP/CU 859/25/1013/01/0042947, contains several conditions governing its environmental operations.
The Authority said Empire Cement had also failed to implement key requirements relating to the installation and maintenance of pollution control systems.
Under Condition 5.1(1)(a), the company was 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 the requirement had not been met.
It further found that the existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment were not being maintained in the condition required to reduce air pollution and ensure compliance with permissible emission limits.
The company was also required to effectively maintain all dust plants within the factory to prevent or minimise dust emissions into the external environment.
According to the EPA, this requirement had not been fulfilled.
The Authority also cited the failure to ensure that pollution control systems remained operational at all times in line with the requirements of GS 1236:2019.
Based on its findings, the EPA said Empire Cement was in breach of Conditions 5.1(a), 5.1(h)(i), 5.1(h)(iv) and 9.1 of the schedule to its environmental permit.
The Authority has directed the company to meet a number of conditions before it can resume operations.
Among other things, Empire Cement has been ordered to submit its outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns by October 1, 2026.
It has also been directed to install appropriate state-of-the-art air pollution control systems that comply with GS 1236:2019.
The company must further ensure that its existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment are in good working condition.
The EPA said the measures are intended to reduce air pollution and ensure that emissions remain within permissible limits for fence-line air quality and point source or stack emissions.