Nkawkaw, March 3, GNA - The Eastern Regional Secretariat of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has closed down two sachet water manufacturing factories at Nkawkaw for not obtaining environmental permits.

Twelve of them were also served with enforcement letters which serves as notice to enable them obtain environmental permit from the agency.

 The factories closed down were BK Crystal Filtered Water at Nsuta Starting Point and Everyday Natural Mineral Water at Nsuta Aban.

 Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, after the operation, the Regional Director of the Agency, Mr Felix Addo-Okyireh expressed worry over the operation of sachet water factories without environmental permits.

He explained that it is mandatory for the operations of processing factories to be inspected to ensure that they posed no threat to the environment.

Mr Addo-Okyireh said, the EPA Act 490, 1994 and Legislative Instrument 16 52, 1999 provide that manufacturing concerns should be inspected before the issuance of an environmental permit.

 He added that the Agency also had the right to close down any undertaken which could cause health threats to the environment

Mr Addo-Okyireh appealed to other institutions like the Food and Drugs Board and Ghana Standards Board to collaborate with the EPA to ensure a well protected environment.

GNA