The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has officially opened its first-ever district office in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. This major step is aimed at improving access to environmental services in underserved areas.
The commissioning, held ahead of this year’s World Environment Day, was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Prof. Nana Ama Klutse Browne, with support from the area’s Member of Parliament, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana and the MCE.
The new office is expected to provide direct services to residents, including permit processing, education, inspections, and monitoring, all without the need to travel to the regional capital.
“We are happy as EPA because we’re getting to the doorstep of the people,” Prof. Klutse said.
The Ketu North office becomes the first EPA district-level office in Ghana. Prof. Klutse Browne commended the municipality for setting the pace.
“This is the first district EPA office we’re opening in Ghana,” she revealed to an audience of local leaders, students, and environmental stakeholders.
She noted that while the EPA continues to open regional offices across the country, having one at the municipal level represents a breakthrough in ensuring that environmental governance starts at the grassroots.
“We’re happy that Ketu North have shown the way in opening an office for EPA. And we hope that the right thing [will be done in protecting the environment.” she added.
Before the commissioning, Prof. Klutse Browne visited several schools in the municipality as part of an environmental education tour. At Wovenu Senior High Technical School and Dzodze Penyi Senior High School, she engaged students on the importance of environmental protection and led a tree planting exercise to encourage environmental responsibility among students.
She also made financial donations worth over ten thousand Ghana cedis to support to the schools – a gesture that was warmly received by the students and school leadership.
The visit formed part of EPA’s commitment to raise awareness ahead of World Environment Day, which this year focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
In her address, Prof. Klutse Browne also spoke strongly against illegal sand winning, describing it as one of the pressing environmental challenges facing the municipality.
“Sand winning is a challenge here,” she stated. “We’re appealing to the chiefs and elders and the communities to guide against environmental degradation through sand winning.”
Her call was a direct appeal to traditional leaders and residents to act as guardians of the land, urging local enforcement and education to be prioritized to stem the practice.
The events were made possible through collaboration with Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, who joined the EPA delegation throughout the tour. The MP also donated street lights to the schools visited, aiming to improve campus security and safety.
At the commissioning ceremony, Hon. Agbana reiterated the importance of aligning development efforts with environmental protection.
“We can’t talk about development without sustainability,” he said.
He assured the schools and the local community of ongoing government support and called for greater public responsibility in preserving natural resources.
“Supporting the EPA and investing in our schools is part of a bigger plan to secure our future. Greening and lightning Ketu north is my vision.” He noted.
The commissioning of the EPA office is expected to significantly enhance environmental governance in the area, and improve accessibility to all.
With World Environment Day fast approaching, the activities in the Ketu North Municipality show a strong commitment from the EPA, government officials, and traditional leaders to protect the environment.
With new infrastructure and support from the community, the municipality is positioned to undertake tree-planting and other environmental conservation initiatives.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Abilla Isaac Azumah
