The Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has charged the new Environmental Protection Agency Board to enforce the nation’s environmental laws forcefully, citing their importance to the national economy.
He said this during the inauguration of the board on Tuesday in Accra.
He noted that the board will play a crucial role in directing the agency’s strategic direction and upholding its mandate, as specified by the Act 2025 (Act 1124).
The Acting Minister directed the board’s attention to key areas, beginning with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and declared that the procedure was a vital protective measure, not a bureaucratic hurdle.
“Let me make it clear that no major project in Ghana should proceed without a thorough evaluation of its potential environmental consequences.
The environmental impact assessment process, as mandated by law, is not a bureaucratic obstacle, as people sometimes put it, but a shield to protect our water bodies, forests, biodiversity and the health of our citizens. Your vigilance in upholding these standards is paramount,” he added.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah emphasised that the effort to combat unlawful small-scale mining, or galamsey, was a shared responsibility for the new board and was connected to the legacy of the late former Minister.
“This menace, as you all know, is what our former minister and colleague ministers paid the ultimate price for; it is our collective responsibility as board members to make sure we stay steadfast and committed to this and ensure that mining is done responsibly and sustainably in their memory,” he added.
He therefore charged the board to support the EPA’s expansion, ensuring its services and presence reach every district in Ghana.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Christiana Amoako-Nuama, expressed commitment to deepening stakeholder engagement, fostering innovation and expanding the Authority’s presence across all districts to strengthen grassroots environmental governance.
“I assure the government, partners and the general public of our dedication to advancing environmental sustainability as a key pillar of national development,” she added.
Other members include Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Ms. Suweibatu Adam, Mr Sampson Akwettey, Mr. Samuel Aggrey, Dr Wisdom Atiwoto, Mrs. Mavis Asare Donkor, Ing Chris Kwasi M. Anaglo, Prof. Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana, Mr. Mumuni Abdulai Bol-Naaba, Prof. Mrs. Rosemary Boateng Coffie, Dr Sandra Kesse-Amankwa, Dr Eddie Akwetey and Mr. Clifford Edmund Frimpong.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
