Makes changes to the Environmental Assessment Regulations of 1999; specifically on fees for environmental cerfiticates and permits.

An Act to control and prevent the disposal of oil into the sea and other water bodies.

An act that establishes the National Petroleum Authority and defines its membership and functions. The Act also outlines: licensing related matters; functions of petroleum service providers; fair use of oil (e.g. preventing the formation of business cartels); petroleum offences, and how managing complaints.

It is a regulatory act that sets up the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Hazardous Committee, and the National Environmental Fund, among others. In the Act, specific functions of the EPA and the Hazardous Committee are detailed, as well as the uses of the fund and regulations on pesticide use.

“An act to provide for the establishment of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and for related matters”. It also defines the functions of the Corporation, its board of directors and their tenure of office, functions of the Board, and how the Corporation can generate funds and operate as a company.

The policy represents the first ever comprehensive policy document on wildfire in Ghana. The policy focuses on the need to check environmental degradation from wildfires and the destruction of biodiversity. The policy pushes to ensure effective prevention and control of wildfires, raise awareness levels, and ensure coordination of stakeholders.

The National Climate Change Policy is to provide direction to stakeholders and coordinate all climate change interventions and activities in Ghana. Its ultimate goal is to ensure a climate resilient and climate compatible economy while achieving sustainable development through equitable low carbon economic growth for Ghana, on the path to attaining the status of a full fledged middle-income country. The objectives of the policy are effective adaptation and social development and mitigation, while the thematic areas upon which they are premised are: energy and infrastructure, natural resources management, agriculture and food security, and disaster preparedness and response.

The National Action Programme explores avenues of halting desertification in Ghana. It places a premium on integration of plans, institutions, and stakeholders, in the form of a community of practice, to deepen and sustain interventions.

The act establishes the Ghana Meteorological Agency with its powers and responsibilities. It is charged with advising the government on meteorological issues, issuing weather reports and forecasts, approving the establishment of a meteorological station, advising the country on weather situations, and providing consultancy services, among other key functions.

The objective of the National Environmental Policy is sustainable development, aimed at ensuring citizens’ quality of life and their living and working environments, equal access to land and other natural resources, more efficient use of social, cultural and natural resources, public participation and environmental governance. Among others, it also tackles sustainable use of the land in an agricultural economy in an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable manner.

The regulations make provisions for the appointment of the National Biosafety Committee as the national focal point on biosafety for purposes of the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety. It defines functions, powers and duties of the Committee.

The regulations apply to existing and proposed dams determined by the Water Resources Commission to have a safety risk. The dam safety unit, established by these regulations will see to reviewing and approving safety procedures and guidelines, inspection and classification of dams, and creation of public awareness, among others.

The Law regulates the exploration, development, and production of petroleum in Ghana. It stipulates the duties and rights of persons involved in such exploration, development or production. Without prejudice to rights granted or acquired in this law or any other laws; no person, except the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation shall engage in the exploration or production of petroleum.

The regulations do not apply to imports or exports of controlled substances
or products that are intended to be used for medical purposes as may be prescribed by law”. It clearly states that no person shall engage in trading (import and export) of controlled substances, as listed in the appropriate schedules without a permit issued by the necessary bodies and persons.

Protection under this Act is available regardless of whether a geographical indication is registered; and against a geographical indication which, although literally true as to the territory, region or locality in which the goods originate, falsely represents to the public that the goods originate in another territory. Indications contrary to moral, indications that have fallen into disuse are excluded from protection.

This act aims to ensure safe handling and overall management of genetically modified organisms that may have adverse effects on general health and environment.The act does not apply to genetically modified organisms that are pharmaceuticals. The act also does not repeal any other act.

The revised environmental sanitation policy sets the gaze of the government on attaining the goals enshrined in the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). It seeks to address the challenges and deficiencies of the 1999 policy. The revised policy broadens the ‘polluter-pays’ concept through legislation, as a means to raise finance for environmental sanitation. It places emphasis on waste data collection for research and development, and strengthening the capacity of environmental actors, among others.

The policy follows from the priority placed on environmental sanitation, and the establishment of health standards. It contains crucial directives to guide the attainment of the objectives of the policy; establishment of the National Environmental Policy Coordinating Council, charged with expiditing the implementation process.

This represents the updated national “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Strategy” – REDD+ Strategy (conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stock). The revision is premised on completion of the previous strategy and experiences garnered over the years. The strategy contains clear policy directions and measures to tackle the drivers of emissions.

This represents Ghana’s commitment to fulfilling its international obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The INDC and accompanied explanatory note thus seeks to ensure clarity, transparency, and understanding of Ghana’s contributions to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol on climate change mitigation.