The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate halt of construction on a massive new mortuary project by Transitions Funeral Home in the Haatso Atomic Gate community in Accra. The project, built within the buffer zone separating the funeral home from residential areas, lacked the necessary environmental permit, violating EPA regulations.
The decision follows years of complaints from residents about foul smells, noise, and suspected environmental contamination. The community had expressed growing unease over the funeral home’s operations, which they claim have turned their once peaceful neighborhood into a place of discomfort.
EPA’s Chief Executive, Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse, directed Transitions Funeral Home to begin a relocation plan, stating that their current permit will not be renewed after it expires in 2027. The community welcomed the decision with relief, calling it a long-overdue move to protect their well-being.
The residents, led by Mr. Max Cobbina, Chairman of the Atomic Gate Home Owners Association, remain united in their call for a safer and healthier environment. Transitions Funeral Home declined to comment on the EPA’s decision. The EPA’s intervention has brought hope to the community, which looks forward to a resolution to the long-standing issue.
GBC/Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
