The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Ltd. at Weija in the Greater Accra Region, citing alleged air pollution violations and breaches of the company’s environmental permit conditions.
The directive, contained in a closure notice dated September 14, 2026, and signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, follows several public complaints about alleged air pollution and nuisance linked to the factory’s operations. The notice was issued under Section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124).
Sustained Emissions Found, Health Implications Cited
According to the EPA, its investigations established “sustained emission of visible particulate/gaseous emissions/pollutants” from the company’s operations, with “negative implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and the public health”.
Particulate matter from cement production is a known concern for communities near such plants, as fine dust can settle on homes, farms and water sources and linger in the air people breathe.
Multiple Permit Breaches Identified
The EPA found Empire Cement in breach of several conditions attached to its Environmental Permit No. EPA/MID/EMP/CU 859/25/1013/01/0042947.
Failure to submit monitoring returns: The company failed to submit its quarterly environmental monitoring returns, in violation of Condition 9.1 of the permit schedule.
Failure to install required pollution controls: The permit required Empire Cement 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 failure to meet this requirement constituted a breach of Condition 5.1(1)(a).
Inadequate maintenance of existing systems: The EPA found that existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment were not being maintained in good working condition to reduce air pollution and comply with permissible limits for fence-line air quality and point source emissions, contrary to Condition 5.1(1)(b)(i).
Failure to maintain dust plants: The company was also required to effectively maintain all dust plants within the factory to prevent or minimise dust emissions into the external environment. The EPA said this requirement had not been met.
Systems not operational at all times: The Authority cited the company for failing to ensure that its pollution control systems remained operational at all times in line with GS 1236:2019.
Based on these 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.
Conditions for Resumption
The EPA has directed Empire Cement to take a series of corrective measures before it can resume operations.
By October 1, 2026: The company must submit its outstanding quarterly environmental monitoring returns in accordance with its permit conditions.
Pollution control installation: Empire Cement must install appropriate state-of-the-art air pollution control systems that ensure compliance with GS 1236:2019, which sets requirements for ambient air quality and point source or stack emissions.
Equipment maintenance: The company must ensure that its existing pollution control systems and auxiliary equipment are in good working condition to reduce air pollution and keep emissions within permissible limits.
Stakeholder engagement: The EPA further directed the company to engage stakeholders in the affected community on the impact of its operations and the measures being taken to mitigate them, and to submit an engagement report to the Authority.
Notification and inspection: Empire Cement must notify the EPA upon completion of the pollution-control installations so that inspectors can verify compliance. The company may resume operations only after installing systems that meet GS 1236:2019 emissions standards and obtaining written permission from the EPA.
The EPA warned that failure to comply could result in further enforcement action, including administrative penalties and other regulatory sanctions under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124).
A History of Regulatory Disputes
This is not the first time Empire Cement has clashed with regulators and residents.
In June 2021, the EPA, with police support, closed down the factory for operating without a permit. At the time, the company had been given an interim permit to manufacture cement paper but went into cement production without approval. Residents of McCarthy Hills had long opposed the project, citing pollution fears.
In 2022, the McCarthy Hill Residents Association accused the company of failing to adhere to the EPA’s directive to cease operations. The dispute reached the courts, where a judge held that the company had no EPA permit to operate and ordered it to stop operations immediately, with the injunction to remain in force until final determination of the residents’ suit.
The company subsequently obtained an environmental permit, which is now at the centre of the latest breaches. For residents who have fought the factory for years, the fresh shutdown will test whether the EPA’s enforcement can finally deliver cleaner air around Weija.
The closure notice was signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse.
