Government backing is no EPA permit – Authority warns GoldBod, ministries

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has cautioned public institutions, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), that government support does not waive reclamation project environmental permitting obligations. In a statement issued on October 14, 2026, the EPA also cited the Forestry Commission, Minerals Commission, and Mineral Development Fund as entities mandated to ensure compliance before any physical works commence or continue.

According to the Authority, projects commissioned, funded, supervised, or undertaken on behalf of public institutions must secure the necessary EPA environmental permit. The EPA emphasized that a contract award, approved funding, mining lease, concession, license, or authorization from another institution cannot substitute for that permit.

Traditional authority consent or involvement in a government program also does not fulfill this requirement. The EPA stated that contracting institutions must confirm EPA permit status before contractors commence work at project sites. In accordance with Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I.

2504), reclamation and restoration activities are encompassed within the environmental assessment and permitting framework. The EPA directed all unpermitted projects to halt operations immediately and report for regulatory assessment, asserting that "Protecting Ghana’s environment is a legal obligation. Compliance is not optional."