, E. Danso-Boateng

In view of the past experiences with the oil, gas and related energy industries in the West African sub-region, there is increased apprehension among Ghanaians on how the recent oil find would impact the environment and whether the nation has the requisite expertise and capacity to manage the oil in an environmentally friendly manner. The apprehension is further heightened by the generally perceived weak environmental regulatory regime in the country. The study used plant and institutional visits, interviews and questionnaires to investigate the waste management practices of four major companies in the oil, gas and related energy industries in Ghana. It sought to find out among others the nature of waste generated by these entities, how the waste they generate are handled, to what extent their activities impact on the environment, the sort of uses to which the waste are put, and the regulatory regime within which they operate. The study revealed that the activities of all the companies impacted on water bodies in their catchment area. Only two (2) out of the four (4) industries studied have comprehensive waste treatment facilities at their plants. The study further revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana (EPA-Ghana) has not been able to sanction those companies violating its regulations. Unless EPA-Ghana and other relevant regulatory bodies rigorously enforce the environmental regulations of the country, the environment of Ghana will continue suffer degradation as a result of the activities of the oil, gas and related energy industries