EPA to Prosecute Environmental Offenders

Accra, (Greater Accra) 21 July '99,

With the coming into force of Executive Instrument (EI.9), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can now prosecute persons who degrade the environment.

The legislation mandates the EPA to take legal action against environmental offenders.

Under the instrument, signed by the Attorney General, the prosecution can be initiated by lawyers in the employment of EPA, Senior Programme Officers of the Agency or Environmental Protection Inspectors.

Dr.Peter C. Acquah, Executive Director of EPA, stated these when he reconvened the Compliance and Enforcement Network (CEN) of the Agency in Accra on Tuesday.

The reactivation of CEN, which is to ensure full compliance of the executive instrument, is made up of representatives of the Media, Ghana National Fire Service, Town and Country Planning, Mines Department and Ministry of Environment Science and Technology.

Other members are officials of the Ministry of Health (Environmental Health Division), Ghana Standards Board, Forestry Department and Department of Factory Inspectorate.

The rest are from the Attorney-General's Department, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police Service.

CEN has two Sub-Committees - Legal and enforcement - which handle legal matters and enforce the law on noise levels, mining and manufacturing degradation.