EPA undergoing major reset to strengthen environmental regulation – Prof. Klutse
The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, says the Authority is undergoing a major institutional reset to build a stronger, more accountable and better-equipped regulator capable of responding to Ghana’s growing environmental challenges.
Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has unveiled a major institutional reset aimed at strengthening Ghana's environmental regulation. This transformation, anchored in the newly enacted Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), is set to enhance the EPA's capacity, accountability, and effectiveness in addressing the country's growing environmental challenges.
Speaking at an EPA in Focus engagement in Kumasi, Prof. Klutse highlighted the significant capacity and structural challenges inherited by the Authority. She emphasized that the reset is not merely an administrative exercise but is firmly grounded in the new legal framework established by Act 1124. The reforms are already beginning to reshape Ghana's environmental governance landscape, bringing about a more robust and responsive regulatory system.
Illegal mining, identified as one of the most serious environmental threats, remains a major concern for Prof. Klutse. She stressed that economic activities should not compromise environmental protection, and the EPA has been working to streamline mining permitting, strengthen compliance monitoring, and intensify enforcement. The Authority has also made substantial strides in addressing weaknesses in environmental monitoring and enforcement capacity, including the acquisition of 95 operational vehicles and 50 motorbikes through internally generated funds.
These investments are aimed at bolstering the Authority's logistical capabilities, enabling more timely responses to environmental threats at the local level.
While acknowledging that major challenges persist, particularly in illegal mining, environmental compliance, and institutional capacity, Prof. Klutse remains confident that the EPA's reforms are steering the country towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. The shift towards a digital permitting system is a key component of this institutional reset, promising to eliminate delays, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance transparency in the permitting process.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
