EPA Orders Shutdown of Empire Cement in Weija Over Sustained Air Pollution and Permit Violations

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has officially ordered the immediate shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Ltd. located in Weija, Greater Accra. This directive, issued on September 14, 2026, follows mounting public complaints regarding severe air pollution emanating from the facility. Investigations conducted by the EPA confirmed that the factory was operating in breach of its environmental permit, significantly impacting the health and well-being of the surrounding community and the environment at large through the release of harmful particulate matter and gases.

According to the regulatory body, the enforcement action was necessitated by Empire Cement's repeated failure to maintain effective pollution control systems and its neglect of statutory obligations. Specifically, the company failed to submit required quarterly environmental monitoring reports, which are essential for tracking the impact of industrial activity on local air quality. The EPA's enforcement was carried out under Section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025, highlighting a intensified regulatory stance against industrial non-compliance and public health risks.

To resume operations, Empire Cement must adhere to a strict set of corrective measures. These requirements include the installation of state-of-the-art air pollution control technologies and the submission of all overdue environmental monitoring data to the authority. Additionally, the EPA has mandated that the company engage directly with affected communities to address local grievances. While the factory has been given a target of October 1, 2026, to meet these conditions for a potential reopening, the EPA has warned that failure to achieve full compliance will result in further legal penalties and continued closure.