Operations of Gan-He Company Limited, a Chinese-owned large-scale mining company operating at Abreshia in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region, have been suspended following an enforcement action by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) over alleged repeated environmental breaches.
The shutdown affects the company’s processing plant and underground dewatering operations after the EPA accused the firm of failing to comply with earlier directives aimed at correcting serious environmental infractions.
The action forms part of a nationwide compliance exercise by the EPA targeting mining firms suspected of violating Ghana’s environmental and mining regulations.
Speaking during the operation, the EPA’s Deputy Director in charge of Mining Operations, Harrison Haron Afful, disclosed that inspectors had initially visited the site on January 27, 2026, where several violations were detected.
According to him, the Authority subsequently issued an enforcement notice, imposed sanctions, and directed the company to undertake remedial measures within stipulated timelines ranging from one to three months.
However, the company allegedly failed to implement the required corrective actions and also did not settle the imposed fine.
Mr. Afful said investigations revealed that Gan-He Company Limited continued to discharge contaminated water into the environment, deposited cyanide-containing tailings into an unengineered storage facility, and poorly managed sediments around the site.
He further indicated that the company failed to submit mandatory environmental monitoring reports to the EPA and was also processing tailings materials without the necessary environmental permit.
“The company was directed earlier this year to halt mining and processing activities after we identified multiple infractions. We outlined specific remedial measures and timelines and imposed a fine, but the company has failed to comply fully with the directives,” he stated.
The EPA said the continued dumping of tailings under unsafe conditions compelled the Authority to order the immediate suspension of operations to prevent further environmental damage.
