Residents say the operations of EDISAW poses a serious health risk to them.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2EAvV9AjBPjez2IWltsXIJVRyPSJAdd2″]The EPA last month shut down the company for serious air pollution, but residents say the company has resumed operations.

Speaking to Citi News, President of Burma Valley Residents, Linda Stepper, expressed the hope that a legal action will compel authorities to ensure a permanent closure of the plastic company.

“I think we need to go court and find out who is responsible because this factory has caused us so much. Sometimes our power goes off for three days because of them.”

Edisaw Company Limited, manufactures takeaway packs, toilet rolls, polythene bags and other plastic products.

A group of residents in the area have for the past few years complained about the activities of the company.

These complains came on the back of the closure of some factories in recent times following reports by Citi News about the health hazards posed to residents.

They include the Happy Sunshine Company, producers of La Vonce tomato paste at Kuntunse, and the shutting down of the plastic processing unit of the Shinefeel Ghana Company Limited at Asutsuare in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post La residents to sue EPA, EDISAW over ‘toxic’ rubber factory appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The five, including four Chinese and one Ghanaian, were arrested by government’s anti-galamsey task-force, Operation Vanguard, after a swoop on their site in Aboso.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XNBsoWJ4uqGgvT2CYrZoxu83EATPQrXi”]The team found that the miners were using large quantities of cyanide and other toxic substances in their operations.

National Commander of Operation Vanguard, Colonel Michael Amoah Ayisi in a Citi News interview, said those arrested include the owner of the illegal mining company.

“We were able to arrest 4 people and the owner of the facility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were brought in to help us do the assessment and also confirm certain things and make them face prosecution.”

“Currently, the suspects are at the Tarkwa Divisional Police Command and we are preparing them for prosecution at the law court.”

Meanwhile, EPA says it will begin cleaning up the site today, to avoid further contamination of the area.

The Senior Programs Officer at the Tarkwa office of the EPA, Moses Kpebu said “We’ll cordon off the place and we are discussing with stakeholders to help us clean up the place. We are dealing with high pollutants so we are mindful about how we deal with the situation,” he said.

The anti-galamsey task-force was deployed to three regions; Ashanti, Western and Eastern about five months ago, to help fight and sustain the campaign against illegal mining.

Their operations have resulted in the arrest of at least 600 illegal miners including foreign nationals, particularly Chinese.

The deployment of the joint police and military task-force came as a major boost to government’s fight against illegal mining in the country, following news of its devastating effects on the country’s land and water resources.

The government placed a six-month ban on all forms of mining until further notice, but has extended it again after the January 2018 deadline because the needed result has not been achieved.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 5 ‘galamseyers’ mining with cyanide to face court today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows Citi News’ report on how the operation of the factory was affecting residents in the area.

The residents had complained about the health challenges the factory exposes them to and called for its closure.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2Ue2RLdeH0eann4tunweB5umzzZe2nII”]Director of Public Affairs at EPA, Angelina Mensah, told Citi News that the factory was closed down because it was operating without permit.

“We served them a notice in a letter we gave to them on February 27, 2018, approximately around 7:00 in the morning…they do not have a permit. All other things are not secondary though, but if you do not have a permit we close your factory down immediately because you are working out of context. You haven’t complied to the laid down rules and regulations of EPA and the country of Ghana.”

She said the company cannot operate again until the managers of the factory take steps to get a permit, adding that even if the permit is granted, they will certainly be relocated.

“They will not operate again until they come to have discussions with EPA and considering the fact that the community complained about the fumes and pollution, they will pay for us to undertake certain kinds of studies and let them remedy the problem. But I think from the look of things, they have to relocate,” she added.

Edisaw Company Limited manufactures takeaway packs, toilet rolls, as well as plastic and polythene bags.

A group of residents in the area have for the past few years complained about the activities of the company.

EPA had closed some factories in recent times following Citi News report on the health hazards posed to residents.

They include the Happy Sunshine Company, producers of La Vonce tomato paste at Kuntunse, and the shutting down of the plastic processing unit of the Shinefeel Ghana Company Limited at Asutsuare in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EPA closes down ‘toxic’ La rubber factory appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the United Nations Convention for Climate Change, Senior Lecturer at the Regional Institute for Population at the University of Ghana, Raymond Kasei said the one village one dam will boost the country’s output from the agric sector.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DK6UJryCSTNm7aFRMGD0drxgEsUF9Ufe”]“The times the rains begin is a big problem for farmers. It is something that affects agriculture in this country. Many of our farming practices rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture so the only village one dam principle will be very helpful for us,” he said.

According to him, the one village one dam policy will upgrade farmers from having to constantly depend on rainfall to ensure their farms are watered to more effective and convenient irrigation systems.

“We might divert from rain-fed agriculture to irrigation farming,” he added.

A number of farmers in various parts of the country have expressed worry over unfavourable weather conditions, which they say is affecting their production and driving a number of prospective farmers from the sector.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, in his campaigns ahead of the 2016 elections, promised to establish one dam in every village in the northern part of the country to boost agriculture through a well-planned irrigation policy.

He said a robust irrigation policy “One Village One Dam” will make Ghana crop all year round and eventually become a net exporter of most foodstuff.

He said his government, would provide functioning irrigation infrastructure through the policy to create jobs and improve food security in Ghana.

Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto had stated that the implementation of the project would start in 2017 dry season, which normally begins in November.

“We have a plan in place that we are going to submit, and hopefully, the implementation will start in the coming dry season,” the Minister said to Citi News.

“Isn’t it a shame that because the northern Savannah has only four months of rain, for eight months, the people there are sitting, folding their arms, waiting for God to bring rain when we have all these big rivers crisscrossing the savannah zone.

However following agitations from farmers over the government’s failure to implement the project before the end of the year, President Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians that the programme will be rolled out in  2018.

“This year, the One-village One-dam project starts full operation. It is a simple low-tech project but these dams will make a big difference to all our lives and livelihood of our farmers. Already, many of the little dams that has been abandoned have been rehabilitated and brought back into use. A deliberate and specific intervention to help farmers is paying off,“ he said when he delivered his second State of the Nation Address earlier in February.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘One village, one dam’ will boost agric sector – Lecturer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Oando fuel station, which is close to Ready Oil Service station, is said to be in operation without a valid license from the EPA and also has several unauthorized structures mounted in its yard, posing serious risks to commuters on the Highway.

The Eastern Regional Director of the EPA, Felix Addo Okyere told Citi News that when his outfit tried closing down the station after realizing that they were selling diesel to illegal miners in the area, the pump attendants and other workers of the company resisted the move.

Felix Addo Okyere told Citi News that the agency could not carry out the intended closure of the facility due to the violent nature of the community members.

“We have the issues with the filling station, Oando Oil Company at Anyinam. We’ve had issues with the station because it has been operating all this while without a permit. We closed it down and the owner initiated the process of acquiring the permit. However, somewhere along the line, he halted the process,” he said.

He said the EPA subsequently was tipped off that the said station, which had barricaded its premises, was instead selling diesel to illegal miners operating in the Atewa area.

“In one of our monitoring exercises we went there and during the visit, we saw on the way a boarded place. We thought they were doing a construction. We got a tip-off that it is not a construction activity but instead they have a lot of Jerri-cans full of diesel and they are selling it to the public. When we went, lo and behold, it was for the sale of diesel,” he added.

“When we contacted them, they claimed they have been buying the fuel from the filling station and keep them there and resell them to the miners or galamseyers. As you are aware, there is a ban on galamsey so if you are selling to them, then you are aiding galamsey.”

The EPA director said when they tried stopping the perpetrators; there was resistance from the community people despite the presence of police officers at the scene.

“Eventually we wanted them to stop, however, they were resistant. So we came back and sought assistance from the regional police command. We went there with three policemen when we got there was resistance from them and they also had reinforcement. They were violent. They didn’t even allow us to take pictures and they threatened us. We also sought reinforcement from the district police command, they came and they were able to calm the situation. The district police command came to assure us that he will see to it that by Friday, they will dismantle the place and clear all those activities.”

Mr. Okyere further said the owner of the facility and leaders of the protestants have been arrested and are aiding in investigations.

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By: Neil Nii AmarteyKarnaku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post E/R: Residents stop EPA from closing down ‘illegal’ fuel station appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The EPA shut down the Happy Sunshine Tomato facility  which is managed by some Chinese expatriates, after a series of Citi News reports had revealed that the company was operating illegally in the residential area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AyxGsbKRjYnUr3moYtr2JWpZf92cR5ZS”]A notice of closure has been posted on the doors and walls of the factory after officials of the EPA, accompanied by the police went to the premises.

Illegal Chinese tomato factory operating again with DCE’s backing

However, despite the order from the EPA and complaints from the residents, the factory has reopened and is operating again, with the tacit support of the Ga West Municipal Assembly led by the District Chief Executive, Clement Wilkinson.

And according to the President of the Willow Court Residence Association, Malik Rockson, the home owners have decided to sue the owners of the facility as well as the Municipal Assembly for the continued operations of the factory despite the EPA’s directive.

“We would have to resort to the courts,  we’ll definitely have [to sue].  We don’t want that factory at that particular location,” he said on Eyewitness News on Tuesday.

“We are going to sue the Chinese [owners] and we’ll join the EPA and Ga West Assembly.”

He believes that allowing the company to continue their operations will set a bad precedent and could encourage other factories to move there.

“If the factory stays, another factory might come and set up and will we have the moral right to ask them not to operate?,” he asked.

Factory shut down, asked to relocate

The EPA had earlier held a closed-door meeting between management of the factory where the company was directed to move its operations to an industrial area, as their current location has not been zoned for such activities.

The Principal Programmes Officer at the Accra Regional office of the EPA, Sophia Vanderpuye, who confirmed the directive to Citi News on Tuesday, said: “At the meeting, it was made very clear to them that the site where they are operating is not appropriate for the kind of manufacturing activity that is going on there is wrong. We had got evidence of the thick smoke that was emanating from their chimneys into the atmosphere, and with the accompanying noise issues. Based on these, they were made to understand that the EPA cannot permit such an activity in a predominately residential area so they have to relocate.”

“They must find an appropriate location, most preferably, an industrial area where they can conveniently produce. The Assemblies have already zoned the areas.”

The tomato factory was fined GHc 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017 for operating illegally, whilst the company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the factory violated that order and resumed full production in November.

Residents at Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, where the Chinese factory operates, had raised concerns about how the activities of the company were affecting them.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kuntunse residents to sue Tomato Factory owners, Assembly, EPA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It appears the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West Municipality, Clement Wilkinson, and the EPA, are at odds as to how the company is back operating once again, after two previous orders to them to stop work.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Wilkinson, who appeared defensive of the firm, said after the EPA’s initial action “the EPA head office gave them [The company] some rules, and said they could go back [to work] and told them what to do.”

“I think after one week, the EPA was to come back and look at these things and if they are satisfied, then give them [Happy Sunshine] the go ahead. That is what I know about it.”

Mr. Wilkinson however could not definitely state what exactly the EPA directed the factory to do after the supposed meeting when probed.

He also refuted suggestions that the Assembly was interfering with the EPA’s work.

“The EPA who closed the whole thing, they gave them that instruction that they should go back and start those things,” he retorted again.

“My position is to solve the problem for the people and Happy Sunshine company. I am not telling them to stay there, the EPA told them they should go back and do what they have told them,” Mr. Wilkinson stressed.

More concise EPA

His comments are in sharp contrast to the EPA, which was firm in its directions to company.

The agency first closed down the Happy Sunshine Company following Citi News’ first reports on the company’s illegal operations.

It then directed the Happy Sunshine Tomato Company managed by Chinese expatriates to relocate from the area.

The Principal Programmes Officer at the Accra Regional office of the EPA, Sophia Vanderpuye, who confirmed the directive to Citi News on November 14, did not mince words.

“At the meeting, it was made very clear to them that the site where they are operating is not appropriate for the kind of manufacturing activity that is going on there is wrong. We had got evidence of the thick smoke that was emanating from their chimneys into the atmosphere, and with the accompanying noise issues. Based on these, they were made to understand that the EPA cannot permit such an activity in a predominately residential area so they have to relocate.”

“They must find an appropriate location, most preferably, an industrial area where they can conveniently produce. The Assemblies have already zoned the areas.”

The tomato factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, was also fined GHc 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017, for operating illegally and ordered them to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the factory violated the order and resumed full production in November.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Illegal Chinese tomato factory operating again with DCE’s backing appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The EPA shut down the facility after a series of Citi News reports had revealed that the company was operating illegally in the residential area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2QxVmX4yKYaorZ23IUFgcHyPUA2bTcpP”]A notice of closure has been posted on the doors and walls of the factory after officials of the EPA, accompanied by the police went to the premises.

The Agency had earlier held a closed-door meeting between management of the factory where the company was directed to move its operations to an industrial area, as their current location has not been zoned for such activities.

The Principal Programmes Officer at the Accra Regional office of the EPA, Sophia Vanderpuye, who confirmed the directive to Citi News on Tuesday, said: “At the meeting, it was made very clear to them that the site where they are operating is not appropriate for the kind of manufacturing activity that is going on there is wrong. We had got evidence of the thick smoke that was emanating from their chimneys into the atmosphere, and with the accompanying noise issues. Based on these, they were made to understand that the EPA cannot permit such an activity in a predominately residential area so they have to relocate.”

“They must find an appropriate location, most preferably, an industrial area where they can conveniently produce. The Assemblies have already zoned the areas.”

The tomato factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, was fined GHc 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017 for operating illegally, whilst the company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the factory violated the order and resumed full production in November.

Residents at Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, where the Chinese factory operates, had raised concerns about how the activities of the company were affecting them.

They complained about the possible long-term health hazards, following the improper disposal of waste by operators of the factory.

A few of the residents who spoke to Citi News after the closure of the facility expressed their joy at the turn of events.

“Everything is normal, there’s no smell, there’s no smoke and we’re all feeling very happy to see that they are closed,” one of the residents said.

Another resident said that even the workers of the company were delighted at the closure, as they had expressed concerns about the quality of fuel they were using, which had accounted for the thick plumes of smoke which was causing the locals a lot of discomfort.

“Since Monday they haven’t operated again. It’s good, if they are going to stop or do something about the smoke it will be good because even their workers are stating that they are really happy because the fuel they were using was dirty which is very cheap. That is causing all the smoke,” the resident said.

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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo & Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Illegal Chinese tomato factory ordered to relocate appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The closure of the company comes after a closed-door meeting between management of the tomato factory and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6bwusyWj11fZLRsonaQaAdzwqFWm1WFA”]A notice of closure has been posted on the doors and walls of the factory after officials of the EPA, accompanied by the police went to the premises on Saturday.

The tomato factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, was fined GHc 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017 for operating illegally whilst the company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the tomato factory violated the order and resumed full production in November.

Residents at Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, where the Chinese factory operates, have raised concerns about how the activities of the company were affecting them.

The residents first raised concerns over the possible long-term health hazards, following the improper disposal of waste by operators of the factory.

Thick smoke fills the air during the company’s operation both during the day and at night, with excessive noise.

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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post EPA closes down illegal Chinese tomato factory at Kuntunse appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Using the road to Zenith College, Seam Oil, an LPG filling station, is opposite the Trade Fair site.

Information gathered by The Finder indicates that the gas filling station has been in operation for over 17 years now.

However, this year, construction works began on the site, which used to be a dumping ground, to house members of The Lord’s Garden Ministry.

Noticing the danger this development poses to lives and property, The Finder contacted the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly to enquire why the church is allowed to build so close to the filling station.

According to the assembly, the request from the paper brought the development to their attention, necessitating a search for the permit.

According to the assembly, the new management discovered that permit was granted The Lord’s Garden Ministry two years ago to build on that piece of land.

According to an official of the assembly, the Municipal Chief Executive has directed the head of works at the assembly to contact the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for information on buffer zones around LPG filling stations.

The official explained that if the information from EPA requires a review of the permit to create space between the filling station and the church under construction, the assembly will invite the church and inform them appropriately.

Recent explosions at LPG filling stations in the country have raised concern about the siting of residential infrastructure close to LPG stations.

According to international standards, a distance of 100 metres must be maintained between gas stations and residential facilities.

The National Petroleum Authority’s regulations stipulate that gas and fuel stations should be sited at a minimum of 30.8 metres or 100ft from residential areas.

Town and Country Planning Department’s zoning guidelines and planning standards dated 2011 states as follows:

Siting of the Plant
The plant should not be located close to or within the proximity of any high tension pylons or cables.

The minimum distance shall be 15 metres.

There shall not be any aerial obstructions at the site.

These obstructions include telecommunication mast, etc., and the minimum distance for such obstructions shall be 10 metres.

The plant shall not be located near sources of ignition, e.g. welding, cutting, grinding, use of impact tools, electrical arcs, hot surfaces, and open flames areas.

A minimum distance from the fence wall shall be 10 metres.

The plant shall not be located near hazardous areas.

Flammable liquids, etc., shall be stored at least 10m from the fence wall.

The plant shall not be fenced with wire mesh of height 2 metres and shall have entrance and exit ways.

The facility shall be free from weeds, open drains, depressions, etc. Weed killers which constitute fire hazard shall not be used to remove weeds at installation point.

Safe distance from building, boundary or fixed source of ignition shall be 15m from the installation of storage tanks at filling plants for both car cylinders and domestic cylinders.

Distance between storage tanks shall conform to the following:
i. Storage tanks up to 20 tonnes – 5m
ii. Storage tanks 20 to 40 tonnes – 7.5m
iii. Storage tanks 40 to 60 tonnes – 10m
iv. Storage tanks over 60 tonnes – 15m

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Source: Finder Newspaper

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