STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF 2015 ACTION PLAN ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY A PRESENTATION TO THE REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL Sally Biney Director/EPA/ACCRA WEST REGION

OUTLINE  Introduction  Planned activities for 2015  Status of implementation  Challenges  Way forward 

INTRODUCTION Ghana’s national environmental policy provided the broad framework for the implementation of the National Environmental Action Plan of Ghana. Specifically, the policy seeks to:  Ensure sound management of natural resources and the environment;  Maintain ecosystems and ecological processes essential for the functioning of the biosphere;  Adequately protect humans, animals and plants, their biological communities and habitats against harmful impacts and destructive practices, and preserve biological diversity

INTRODUCTION  Integrate environmental considerations in sectoral, structural and socio-economic planning at the national, regional, district and grassroots levels;  Guide development in accordance with quality requirements to prevent, reduce and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and nuisances;  Seek common solutions to environmental problems in West Africa, Africa and the world at large.

OUR MISSION The Mission of the EPA of Ghana is to co- manage, protect and enhance the country’s environment in particular as well as seek common solutions to global environmental problems

OUR VISION A country where all sections of the community value the environment and strive to attain environmentally sustainable development with sound and efficient resource management, taking into account social and equity issues. An Agency dedicated to continually improving and conserving the country’s environment in particular.

OUR CORE VALUES DEDICATION TEAMWORK SERVICE INTEGRITY

PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2015  Environmental Assessment Administration  Compliance Enforcement activities(t o ensure compliance with Act 490 and its regulations in order to avoid pollution and environmental degradation and stimulate sustainable development )  Environmental Awareness Creation  To enhance understanding on environmental issues through awareness raising and use of the media, environmental education and community-based initiatives on environment  Complaints investigation  Networking/Collaboration with MDAs and MMDs  National Environmental Day Celebrations

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION  EA Administration  Permitted over 600 projects in various sectors from January to date including  General Construction ( Shops and apartments, warehouses,churches, etc)  Energy (Fuels Service Stations, LPG Refilling Plants)  Tourism (Hotels, hostels, entertainment centres etc)  Health (Clinics, medical laboratories, waste treatment facility) Suspended the issuance of Environmental Permits for Fuel Service Stations and LPG Refilling Plants since June 1, 2015.

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION  Compliance Enforcement Activities  Special Compliance enforcement activities mainly in the Energy sector  Visited over 500 Fuel Service Stations and LPG Refilling Plants  Non compliant ones issued with enforcement notices to rectify problems identified  Geo referencing of fuel service stations in Accra  General compliance monitoring in other sectors based on permitting conditions

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION  Environmental Awareness Creation Programmes  Schools  Churches  Radio and Television  Staff Capacity Building  Officers trained in prosecution, use of sound level meters and Geographical Position Systems, EIA, etc

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION  Complaints Investigations  Complaints received were mainly on noise pollution from churches, mosques, entertainment centres, block making factories etc. About 10% of complaints boarders on air pollution from plastic recycling plants and carpentry shops in residential areas.  Over 70% of complaints received have been successfully resolved

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION  Networking/Collaboration with MDAs and MMDAs  Effective collaboration with all MMDAs at the Technical Sub-Committee level to assess and approve development Applications.  Effective collaboration at the Technical Review Committee level to review and assess applications for approval for environmental permits  Key role in ensuring that the environmental impacts of road construction activities in the Region are mitigated  Development of guidelines for the siting of fuels service stations in collaboration with NPA, GNFS, DIF and TCPD

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DAY CELEBRATIONS  Noise Awareness Day- Noise, Kill it!  World Environment Day, Celebrated on the 5 th of June, 2015 at Valley View University, Oyibi- Seven billion dreams, one planet, consume with care.  Ozone Day- Ozone, all there is between you and UV

CHALLENGES/CONSTRAINTS  Inadequate funds  Inadequate logistics- vehicles, equipments etc  Inadequate staff  Landuse issues/ non adherence to planning scheme  Noise nuisance from churches, mosques, cassette/CD vendors etc  Inadequate waste management infrastructure

WAY FORWARD  Continuous collaboration with the MMDAs in dealing with the following:  Waste management  Noise control  Development control issues  Environmental education  Compliance monitoring  Intensification in the prosecution of offenders

THANK YOU