EPA launches second awareness campaign ahead of Styrofoam ban

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has launched its second public awareness campaign ahead of a Styrofoam ban, according to a report by the EPA. The initiative is part of ongoing institutional reforms undertaken by the authority, which recently transitioned from an agency to an authority under a new legal framework. EPA Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, unveiled the expansion of the EPA's operations at a launch event held in Kumasi on August 27.

She stated that the authority has established 46 new district offices, recruited approximately 3,000 additional staff, and promoted 444 staff members to bolster its capacity and effectiveness in environmental protection. Prof. Browne Klutse explained that these changes were necessary to build the EPA's human resources, logistics, and infrastructure, enabling it to carry out its broader environmental and climate-change responsibilities.

The expansion of district offices and increased staffing will improve the EPA's ability to reach communities, monitor environmentally sensitive activities, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. These reforms align with the government's Reset Agenda, aimed at repositioning state institutions to deliver more effectively on their respective mandates.

Prof. Klutse emphasized that the transformation of the EPA extends beyond personnel and logistical increases; it also addresses technical and operational gaps that previously hindered the institution's effectiveness. She affirmed that the authority will continue to strengthen its systems and field presence to ensure effective environmental protection nationwide.