EPA orders Empire Cement to relocate from Densu Delta Ramsar Site

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a formal directive to Empire Cement Ghana Limited, mandating the immediate initiation of relocation procedures for its facility located within the Densu Delta Ramsar Site. The order requires the company to cease its current operations at the site, which primarily consists of a cement grinding and bagging plant situated in a protected environmental zone.

According to the directive signed by the EPA Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Empire Cement is required to submit a comprehensive and detailed relocation plan to the regulator within 30 days. This plan must outline the steps and timelines the company will follow to move its industrial activities to a more suitable location that does not conflict with national and international environmental protection laws governing Ramsar sites.

This latest enforcement action follows a history of regulatory friction between the state agency and the cement manufacturer. On September 14, 2026, the EPA issued an official Closure Notice to the company due to environmental concerns and regulatory violations at the site. The agency has clarified that the original closure order remains in full effect even as the company prepares its relocation strategy, ensuring that industrial activity does not continue in the interim.

The Densu Delta Ramsar Site is a critical wetland area recognized under international treaties for its ecological importance, serving as a vital habitat for various bird species and providing essential ecosystem services to the surrounding communities. By ordering the removal of the industrial facility, the EPA aims to restore the integrity of the protected area and mitigate the potential for pollution to damage the sensitive local environment.