The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered all persons and institutions carrying out land reclamation, mine-site rehabilitation, dredging, and water-body restoration without the required permits to stop work immediately.

In a public notice dated October 14, 2026, the Authority warned that such activities must receive EPA approval before they begin or continue, regardless of whether they are government-sponsored, privately funded or supported by donors.

The directive applies to ministries, government agencies, district assemblies, mining companies, contractors, traditional authorities, landowners, investors and other organisations involved in restoration projects.

The EPA said institutions participating in or supervising such programmes must ensure full compliance with environmental permitting requirements before physical work starts.

It also stressed that contracts, mining licences, funding approvals and consent from traditional authorities do not replace the need for an EPA permit.

Under Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), activities requiring approval include the rehabilitation of abandoned mines, backfilling and reshaping excavated land, revegetation, river dredging and desilting, and the restoration of polluted water bodies, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.

Entities already undertaking such work without permits have been directed to cease operations and report to the nearest EPA regional office or its head office for regulatory assessment. 

Contracting institutions have also been instructed to verify permit status before allowing contractors to mobilise to project sites.

The Authority said it supports efforts to restore land and water bodies damaged by illegal and irresponsible mining but warned that restoration work must not create further environmental harm by bypassing regulatory safeguards.

It cautioned that anyone who continues the activities in defiance of the notice would face action under the applicable laws of Ghana.

Read the full statement below: