EPA shuts down ex-DCE’s mining site over illegal Chinese involvement and unpermitted operations, ‘No permit, no pollution,’ Agency warns.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shut down a mining site belonging to former Mpohor District Chief Executive Asaah Mensah and one Obed Osei for allegedly involving Chinese nationals in illegal small-scale mining operations and operating without an environmental permit. The closure, carried out during a nationwide compliance operation in the Mpohor District on May 18 led by EPA Deputy Director of Mining Harrison Afful, also followed findings that the operators, trading under the name JKCem I AM Gold, were discharging untreated underground water into the environment. The EPA said the activities constituted environmental offences, noting that foreign nationals are not permitted to engage in small-scale mining in Ghana and that the scale of operations observed exceeded the approved scope, with the Agency indicating that the operators would face legal action.
