EPA orders immediate halt to all reclamation and restoration activities without approval

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued an immediate injunction to cease all land reclamation, dredging and environmental restoration projects operating without the necessary permits and regulatory oversight nationwide. In a statement issued on October 14, 2026, the EPA highlighted a rising number of such activities transpiring without the requisite approvals.

"All entities presently undertaking reclamation, dredging, rehabilitation or restoration activities without the requisite EPA Environmental Permit are hereby directed to CEASE OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY," the authority declared. Operators found in violation must report to the nearest EPA Regional Office or the Head Office for regulatory evaluation.

This directive encompasses mine-site rehabilitation, backfilling of excavated areas, restoration of abandoned mining sites, river dredging and desilting, and interventions impacting wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. It applies to government-backed, privately funded, and donor-funded projects. The EPA cautioned that persistent unpermitted operations post the notice would be met with legal action under Ghanaian law.

While the Authority backs initiatives to restore land and water bodies ravaged by irresponsible mining, it emphasized that urgency should not supersede essential safeguards designed to prevent further environmental degradation during restoration work.