EPA to Certify Environmental Management Practitioners Under New Environmental Law
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is set to introduce a mandatory certification and registration regime for Environmental Management Practitioners in Ghana, in line with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124).
The move, announced by the EPA, is aimed at strengthening professionalism, accountability and regulatory compliance in the delivery of environmental management services across the country. Once the regime takes effect, only individuals and firms certified and registered by the Authority will be legally permitted to provide environmental management services in Ghana.
The certification initiative is anchored in Section 31 of Act 1124, which mandates the EPA to certify qualified environmental practitioners and maintain an official register of all approved professionals and firms operating in the sector. This represents a significant expansion of the Authority’s oversight role, moving beyond project approvals to direct regulation of practitioners.
According to the EPA, the register of certified Environmental Management Practitioners will be made publicly accessible to enhance transparency. The list will be published on the EPA’s official website and in the Environmental Bulletin established under the new law, enabling the public, investors and regulatory bodies to verify the credentials of practitioners.
The new framework will apply to both individual experts and environmental consultancy firms engaged in services such as environmental impact assessments, audits, monitoring, and management planning. The EPA will also be empowered to monitor the activities of certified practitioners to ensure compliance with approved environmental management systems and standards.
While the Authority has issued advance notice of the certification regime, it has indicated that detailed guidelines, including application procedures, qualification requirements, fees and timelines, will be communicated in due course. Stakeholders in the environmental sector have been encouraged to prepare for the implementation of the new requirements.
The EPA says the initiative forms part of broader reforms under the Environmental Protection Act, 2025, designed to improve environmental governance, protect natural resources, and ensure that environmental management services are delivered by competent and accountable professionals.
Once fully operational, the certification regime is expected to raise standards within the environmental management profession and support Ghana’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental protection.
