Wednesday, 5 August 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Wednesday, 5 August 2026

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Ghanaian press · Organization

Environmental Protection Agency

Also known as: Municipal Director of the Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Protection Agency — launches methane emissions guidelines for oil and gas industry and implements single-use styrofoam ban.

2026-04-272026-08-05

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

April 2026
30 AprThe Chronicle
… He further revealed that in 2023, school authorities, the Municipal Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the then Municipal Chief Executive, and the miner reached an agreement to ensure that mining activities would not endanger school children. …
Western Regional Minister Cracks Down on Illegal Mining Near Basic School
29 AprBusiness & Financial Times
… g that “GOIL isn’t leading the industry only in volumes sold, but in real leadership initiatives such as we are witnessing today.” Other stakeholders, including the Chief Executive of COMAC, Dr Riverson Oppong, and the Director of Compliance at the Environmental Protection Agency …
GOIL launches HSSEQ Week 2026 with focus on psychosocial well-being
29 AprJoy Online
… g that “GOIL isn’t leading the industry only in volumes sold, but in real leadership initiatives such as we are witnessing today.” Other stakeholders, including the Chief Executive of COMAC, Dr Riverson Oppong, and the Director of Compliance at the Environmental Protection Agency …
GOIL launches 2026 HSSEQ Week with Focus on Psychosocial Well-being
28 AprThe Ghanaian Times
… It was also found that the company failed to secure the necessary approvals from regulatory bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, as required under Section 18 of Act 703. …
Minister revokes Adamus Resources leases over illegal mining
Government revokes Adamus Resources mining leases for violations
1. 27 AprJoy Online
  … The company maintained that it holds valid licences and approvals from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), while raising concerns about a lack of procedural fairness. …
  Soldiers deployed to Adamus site after government revoked mining leases
2. 27 AprJoy Online
  … ngo, Salman and Nkroful, and was responding “in the interest of accuracy and public clarity.” Adamus maintained that it remains a fully licensed operator within Ghana’s regulatory framework, with valid approvals from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency …
  Adamus rejects lease revocation, cites breach of due process

Mining & Energy

EPA launches methane emissions guidelines for oil and gas

The News

Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency has launched national guidelines aimed at reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry through standards for detecting, reporting and repairing methane leaks while placing stricter controls on gas venting and flaring. The guidelines are part of Ghana's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

23 hours ago · Joy Online →

Yesterday

EPA launches methane emissions guidelines for oil and gas
Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency has launched national guidelines aimed at reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry through standards for detecting, reporting and repairing methane leaks while placing stricter controls on gas venting and flaring. The guidelines are part of Ghana's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.
23 hours ago · Joy Online →
Veterinary Services warns of anthrax burial site project risk
The Veterinary Services Department has objected to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly's plan to develop a commercial facility on part of a surveillance farm containing an anthrax burial site at Kwabedu, warning that the project could trigger an epidemic through exposure to deadly pathogens. The regional director says the assembly has ignored repeated objections and legal advice despite assurances from the Western Regional Minister to relocate the project.
4 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Friday 31 July

PACE warns eco-friendly packaging costs could delay styrofoam phase-out
The Public Action for Climate and Ecosystem, a student-led environmental advocacy organisation, cautions that high costs of eco-friendly packaging alternatives could slow Ghana's transition away from styrofoam as the country prepares to phase out single-use polystyrene products. PACE says affordability and availability of replacement materials will be critical for ensuring a smooth transition, and that cheaper alternatives are essential to drive behavioural change among consumers, traders and businesses.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 30 July

REGSEC seizes nine excavators in Obuasi anti-galamsey sweep
The Ashanti Regional Security Council has intensified operations against illegal mining, impounding nine excavators during a joint security task force operation at the Airport Community in Obuasi Municipality. Officials from multiple agencies inspected environmental damage at the site, and the Deputy Regional Security Coordinator confirmed that three previously disabled excavators had been repaired by illegal miners and reactivated.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Circular economy expert backs EPA ban on single-use styrofoam
A circular economy expert has defended the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to ban single-use polystyrene food containers, arguing that disposable plastics end up in drains and water bodies, contributing to flooding and environmental degradation. The expert clarified that the ban targets harmful single-use materials, not all plastic products.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 29 July

GJA Ashanti chair leads journalists to EPA director funeral rites
Journalists from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Ashanti Region visited EPA Regional Director Dr Jackson Adiyah Nyantakyi to condole with him following the death of his wife, Mrs Vida Catherine Nyantakyi, who passed away after a short illness. The delegation assured him of media support in announcing funeral activities, with final funeral rites scheduled for September 19 at Ahafo Mim in the Ahafo Region.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Residents protest environmental damage from Bekwai quarry operations
Hundreds of residents from communities in Bekwai Municipality have staged a peaceful demonstration against Day Shine Quarry Company, alleging environmental degradation, property destruction through blasting, and health risks from dust. The Assembly Member for Adankragya warned the company to suspend operations and engage affected communities within one week or face further protests.
29 July 2026 · The Chronicle →
Illegal miners encroach on Obuasi Airstrip's reclaimed lands
Illegal miners have returned to 100 hectares of land around Obuasi Airstrip that AngloGold Ashanti released to the community in 2018 for agricultural projects. The Obuasi West MCE called for the area to be designated for regulated community mining to integrate miners into a legal framework, while the Ashanti Regional Reclamation Committee recovered three repaired excavators being used for illegal mining near the airport.
29 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Monday 27 July

Ghana Medical Association calls for single-use plastic ban
The Ghana Medical Association has called on government to ban single-use plastics and styrofoam used in food packaging, saying these materials are a major cause of unsafe food in the country and contribute to rising health budgets and disease risks.
27 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 26 July

Korea commits $3.5m to restore Ghana's World Heritage Forts
Tourism Minister Abla Gomashie secured US$3.5 million from the Korean National Commission for UNESCO to restore six of Ghana's World Heritage Forts and Castles. Ghana also secured commitments from the Africa World Heritage Fund and WHIPIC for heritage management capacity-building.
26 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 24 July

Ghana generates 1.1–1.3 million tonnes plastic waste annually
Ghana produces between 1.1 and 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, representing 12 to 14 per cent of the country's municipal solid waste, with only 10 to 15 per cent collected for recycling, according to studies by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the EPA.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Akonta Mining's Samreboi operations lacked ratified leases and permits
A legal analysis examines a High Court judgment from May 19, 2023, concerning Akonta Mining Services and Chairman Wontumi's operations in Samreboi forest reserves, as part of a broader chronicle of natural resource litigation involving unratified leases, missing permits, and allegations of civil trespass against the company.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 23 July

NACOC warns all current cannabis farms are illegal
The Narcotics Control Commission has warned that no cannabis cultivation licences have been issued, making all existing farms operating nationwide illegal and liable to sanctions. Parliament is yet to approve the final regulatory framework before the Commission can begin issuing licences, and cannabis cultivation is restricted to medicinal, industrial, and research purposes only.
23 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Urban flooding in Ghana linked to planning violations and wetland encroachment
Flooding in major Ghanaian cities including Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tema, and Kasoa is driven partly by man-made factors such as violations of planning regulations, weak development control, and encroachment on wetlands and natural drainage channels. Experts argue that while climate change and unpredictable rainfall have intensified flood risks, planning authorities and regulatory agencies bear responsibility for protecting environmental assets that serve as natural flood defences.
23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

Minister urges local assemblies to lead climate action in Upper West
The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has warned that erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and failing crops in the Upper West Region threaten livelihoods and human survival, urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take the lead in climate adaptation and mitigation projects. The Upper West Regional Minister challenged district leaders to integrate climate action into their development plans and budgets as an economic and governance emergency.
22 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Landfill 2.6km from Sunyani Airport risks bird strikes
A landfill on the Sunyani Technical University campus, located 2.6 kilometres from Sunyani Airport, is attracting large numbers of birds and poses an aviation safety risk, according to GACL. International standards require landfill sites to be at least 13 kilometres away from airports.
22 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Monday 20 July

Mallam residents demand end to illegal landfill operations
Residents of Mallam in Weija Gbawe Municipality are calling on Ghana Armed Forces and state security to stop an illegal landfill protected by armed land guards, which they say causes flooding by blocking natural drainage channels and poses public health risks through disease-carrying insects.
20 July 2026 · The Chronicle →
Keta Port and Ho Airport projects progressing, says Transport Minister
Ghana's Transport Minister announced that the Keta Port project has completed preparatory processes and received environmental approval in April, with the administrative and operational block about 80 per cent complete and expected to be finished by January 2027. The government is also pursuing discussions with private investors for financing and construction under a public-private partnership arrangement.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 14 July

Air quality experts convene in South Africa on African pollution crisis
Air quality experts from more than 40 countries gathered in Pretoria for the Africa Clean Air Forum 2026, held under the theme "Investment Case for Clean Air and Healthy Cities," as African countries face a mounting air pollution crisis. According to the Clean Air Fund's State of Global Air Quality Funding 2025 Report, the African region received less than 1% of global air quality funding despite experiencing high levels of pollutant exposure that caused 1.2 million premature deaths across the continent in 2023.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
EPA and Minerals Commission implement 25 of 29 audit recommendations
Vice Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee Davis Ansah Opoku has commended the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission for progress in implementing audit recommendations on regulating small-scale mining, with the two institutions fully implementing 25 of 29 recommendations and partially implementing two others.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Deputy Lands Minister calls for mandatory reclamation bonds in mining
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has advocated for mandatory reclamation bonds for mining licence holders and additional engineers in mining districts to strengthen environmental protection and regulation. He reported that 29 of the Auditor-General's recommendations have been fully implemented and 25 others addressed, while the government is deploying more EPA officers and establishing community mining committees.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
PAC Vice Chairman demands comprehensive mining leases register
The Vice Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to provide Parliament with a comprehensive register of all mining leases granted to both local and foreign companies to enhance transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
E-waste burning at Agbogbloshie contaminates Ghana's food chain
Scientists say pollution from informal e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie is contaminating both human breast milk and livestock milk in surrounding communities, with research from the University of Ghana and UNICEF findings showing that heavy metals and hazardous pollutants released during open burning accumulate in the environment and enter the food chain consumed by mothers, infants and residents.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 10 July

Ambient air pollution costs Ghana nearly $2 billion yearly
According to a UNDP report cited by the Clean Air Fund's country lead, Ghana loses almost $2 billion annually to ambient air pollution through impacts on public health and the economy. The fund warns that open waste burning during sanitation exercises could worsen the problem and undermines regulatory enforcement.
10 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Clean Air Fund criticizes waste burning in nationwide clean-up
Desmond Appiah, Country Lead for the Clean Air Fund, has warned that burning waste during the nationwide clean-up exercise contradicts environmental objectives and creates new air pollution problems. He noted that the Environmental Protection Agency's recent Air Quality Regulations prohibit open burning, and that authorities should demonstrate best practices rather than engage in activities that violate national environmental standards.
10 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 7 July

Samreboi floodwaters recede after displacing thousands
Floodwaters in Samreboi, Western Region, have receded after displacing more than 2,000 residents who spent over two weeks in temporary shelters, leaving behind widespread devastation and property damage. The EPA has linked the flooding to environmental degradation caused by illegal mining in the area, and affected residents are appealing for relief items, financial assistance, and support to rebuild.
7 July 2026 · Daily Guide →
Accra floods expose infrastructure gaps amid new city plans
Heavy rains on June 29 submerged large parts of Accra across multiple districts, revealing a citywide drainage failure rather than localized issues. The article argues that without decisive action, future floods will worsen, and that the public focus on refuse dumping in sewers overlooks deeper infrastructure problems.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 6 July

Ghana's flood task force plans demolitions following deadly floods
The National Post Flood Mitigation Task Force has announced demolitions of structures built on waterways and drainage reservations following floods that claimed more than 34 lives across Greater Accra, Central and Volta regions. The government has committed GH¢350 million towards emergency relief and mitigation interventions, but the article questions whether this represents a genuine turning point or merely reactive management.
6 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Friday 3 July

Outdoor air pollution cost Ghana GH¢28bn, 13,000 lives in 2024
A UNDP report found that outdoor air pollution cost Ghana an estimated GH¢28 billion (2.3 per cent of GDP) in economic losses in 2024 and contributed to 12,870 deaths and over 316,000 disease cases, with stroke accounting for the largest share of pollution-related deaths.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Armed Forces to lead nationwide drain-clearing flood recovery operation
The Ghana Armed Forces will deploy personnel, engineers and specialised equipment to clear major drains, rivers and waterways of debris, silt, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles and other obstructions following devastating floods on June 28 and 29, 2026. As part of the operation, structures illegally built within waterways or posing immediate danger to public safety may be removed in collaboration with civil authorities.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →