Kumawu MP faults EPA over weak mining bond enforcement
A Ghanaian legislator criticized the Environmental Protection Authority during a parliamentary committee session for allowing mining companies to skip mandatory financial guarantees meant to restore damaged landscapes. Ernest Yaw Anim, who represents Kumawu and serves on the Public Accounts Committee, stated on Tuesday that nearly 20 small-scale operators conduct business without posting reclamation bonds required by the 1999 environmental assessment rules.
The regulations direct mining enterprises to calculate potential harm from their activities and deposit funds that would cover land restoration after extraction ends. Anim argued that weak oversight has worsened conditions in affected areas. He said proper enforcement would provide money to repair sites even when companies abandon operations. The lawmaker emphasized that demanding compliance would advance efforts against illegal mining while protecting natural resources.
His statements reflect broader frustration about regulatory gaps as Ghana confronts environmental damage from both licensed and unauthorized extraction operations affecting soil and waterways nationwide. The authority’s performance in monitoring the sector continues to draw scrutiny from officials and citizens concerned about the enforcement of protection measures.
