The new system is expected to address persistent challenges in environmental qual­ity monitoring, including delayed detection and poor data reliability from industrial operations.

Launching it in Accra yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Klutse, said the existing monitor­ing regimes have made it difficult to quickly identify pollution incidents, compromising efforts to manage the environmental impact of industrial activities.

She cited a World Bank report that revealed that the cost of environmental degradation in Ghana amounted to US$6.3 billion in 2017, roughly 11 per cent of GDP, with air pollution alone accounting for over US$2.4 billion.

To improve this situation, she stated that the authority entered a Public-Private Part­nership (PPP) with ECHT Environmental Services Limited to deliver a complete tech­nological solution that provides a platform for transmitting real-time environmental quality data.

GOCEMS platform, Prof. Klutse said, would track industrial emissions, effluent discharge, and ambient noise levels using advanced sensor technology in line with Ghana’s environmental standards.

She described the initiative as a game-changer in real-time environmental monitoring and pollution control, empha­sising that the system would enable a swift response to pollution incidents, thereby strengthening the enforcement of environ­mental permit conditions.

“The system is compulsory for all in­dustries operating in Ghana, and industries failing to comply risk sanctions including fines, factory closures, or legal action,” she underlined.

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, expressed strong government support for the newly launched GOCEMS.

He said the system would provide accurate, real-time environmental data to enhance pollution management and enforcement of environmental regulations, as it would support early warning alerts and spatial mapping of pollution hotspots, pro­viding critical data for decision-making on urban planning, climate change mitigation, and public health protection.

“Beyond enforcement, GOCEMS is ex­pected to promote the adoption of cleaner technologies and sustainable production practices across industries,” he underscored.

While acknowledging the benefits, the Minister also recognised some potential challenges, including high installation costs, limited technical expertise, poor internet connectivity in rural areas, and low public awareness.

To address these issues, Dr Muhammed pledged to strengthen partnerships with global institutions such as UNEP and the World Bank, support local innovation, and invest in public education to improve envi­ronmental literacy.

He commended the EPA and ECHT for their dedication and urged continued collaboration to ensure the system becomes a strategic environmental management tool.