On Friday, August 11, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a decisive action by revoking the permit of Non-Ferus Metal company in Tema East and subsequently shutting down its operations due to a series of severe environmental violations.
The enforcement was led by Dr. Henry Kokofu, the Executive Director of the EPA, who directed a taskforce to ensure compliance with EPA regulations pertaining to environmental hazards.
Dr. Kokofu revealed that the Non-Ferus Metal company had been engaging in nighttime pollution of the environment and demonstrated a lack of proper safety measures for its workers, thus subjecting them to exposure to hazardous acidic substances and lead.
During interactions with the company’s staff, Dr. Kokofu reassured them that the intervention was intended for their well-being and aimed to facilitate comprehensive investigations into the company’s practices.
“All that we are saying is that we are here to ensure the safety of the environment and the health of the people including your officers and employers. We are not here to mar anybody’s business, but we cannot allow this magnitude of pollution to go on. You the workers are being subjected to and exposed to hazards… You are so precious to the country Ghana, you are sons of Ghana. You deserve to work in a very congenial environment. We are afraid that you might have been exposed to substances like lead, so we are going to bring in the public health to test each one of you at the expense of the company to ensure that none of you is having any health issues.”
“Again we will temporarily close down the factory and summon the owners to the head office in Accra to come and explain why they are working under these conditions, and then we will prescribe what needs to be done. Once they are able to do it, we allow them to do it. We are not going to allow operations in this situation. It is dangerous for your health and the environment so kindly cooperate with us in this direction,” he stated.