Mining companies not meeting environmental standards - EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, says mining companies in the country are not meeting environmental standards.

According to the EPA’s assessment of sixteen mining companies operating in Ghana, environmental regulations as well as county’s legal requirements are being flouted.

But Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Daniel Amlalo says there are no prescribed sanctions yet for the defaulting companies.

"One, they have not complied with the legal requirement for the country; two, they have released toxic chemicals into the environment, which we said should not be the case. We want zero releases into the environment but once you released one, is enough for us as a regulatory body to say your performance is bad.

But WACAM, a mining advocacy group, is questioning EPA’s rating criteria.

Associate Executive Director, Hannah Koranteng tells Joy News EPA's rating is not feasible because it relies on resources of the mining companies in preparing the research.

She says such reports from the EPA can only become credible if the EPA operates independently.