Citi News sighted construction work vigorously ongoing at a Unity Oil filling station, located at Krofrom, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The supervisors said they were not aware of any directive to stop work, and its management maintained that all requirements for the construction had been met.

At Parkoso in the Asokore Mampong Municipality, a new Nasona Oil fuel station was being constructed, notably in a waterlogged area.

“Recently, there have been explosions in the country. It happened at the Atomic junction in Accra so definitely, I have cause to worry,” a resident of Krofrom said, as he expressed his fears to Citi News.

This resident said he thought the government “should come out with strict rules governing the siting of filling stations. If they do that, I think the explosions will come down.”

As far as the enforcement of the directive from the President is concerned, officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have said they will soon begin to take action against such stations.

Samuel Oteng, the Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, however said he was unaware of the stations Citi News visited.

“We are working hand in hand to make sure that directive is carried out, so if they are listening, I am sure that the whole Ghana, everybody has heard it now.”

He noted the EPA, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), were among the outfits that would be helping with the enforcement of the directive.

Following the Atomic Gas Explosion that killed at least 7 people and injured 132 in Accra, Government after a crucial cabinet meeting, announced a number of directives, about ten of them, geared towards sanitizing the fuel distribution and retail sector, to improve safety and save more lives.

One of the decisions as approved by the President, was an immediate cessation of the construction of new fuel stations, to allow the NPA and its allied agencies, to carry out a proper audit of all the facilities.

The President also ordered the closure of all high-risk fuel stations within 30-days.

The President also ordered the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution within a year.

The module, proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), will ensure that LPG filling points are sited out of densely populated areas and commercial centres.

Suspending construction of fuel stations ‘illegal’ – Ayariga warns

A former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Mahama Ayariga, believes government may be infringing on the rights of some fuel distributors following the directive to halt the construction of petrol/diesel and LPG filling points until further notice.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the order is in the best interest of Ghanaians.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KJxwCDb1F9cuMtxrZoKWnzhNfP95IVzX”]In the wake of the Atomic Junction gas explosion, the construction of petrol/diesel and LPG filling points, is to cease immediately until further notice, the government has stated.

This directive formed part of nine safety measures outlined by the Presidency after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

A statement from the government noted that, President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered the “immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.”

The directive follows the massive explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction that has so far claimed at least seven lives and injured over 100 persons.

But a former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Mahama Ayariga, said the government may be infringing on the rights of some fuel distributors over the directive

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, he said he embarked on a similar move while a sector minister in the previous government, but found out that he could not be successful because the action did not have a legal basis.

“I did similar things and in all fairness, very often I was challenged by people based on law and they were able to show that clearly, in many of the instances, I was wrong,” he noted.

He there advised the government to “analyze every one of them [fuel stations] to see the legal basis for such decisions, and such directives” before any concrete action is taken in this regard.

But Mustapha Hamid on Eyewitness News said there was no complexity in the directive, and that government had the power to issue such a directive.

He noted that, the state had empowered agencies to carry-out such actions, adding that, the directive was only for a short period to allow for a proper audit of the sector.

“This is a country where institutions have been endowed with the power to ensure that people are building structures in accordance with law. So if the president says let us put a stop to the buildings and let us go and see whether the people who are putting it up are doing it according to specifications as enshrined in existing laws, I don’t see how that can be unconstitutional…When the audit is done, those that are cleared to continue can continue,” he said.ss

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The order formed part of nine directives from a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, which saw the introduction of nine safety measures to ensure sanity within the fuel distribution chain nationwide following the Atomic Gas explosion.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9DOlXq3DCPwEHD4emcPSNvBD83jSglW9″]Mr. Ayariga, a Minister under the Mahama administration, reminded that, he had adopted similar measures following the deadly 2015 June 3 fire and flood disaster, but found the law to be a stumbling block.

“I did similar things and in all fairness, very often I was challenged by people based on law and they were able to show that clearly, in many of the instances, I was wrong,” he noted on the Citi Breakfast Show.

Based on that experience, he suggested that the government needed to “analyze every one of them [fuel stations] to see the legal basis for such decisions, and such directives” before any concrete action is taken in this regard.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislator, insisted that “Cabinet cannot meet and say that suspend work. That is not the job of Cabinet.”

Directives must pass through Parliament

These policy decisions can be deliberated upon by the Cabinet, but must be brought to Parliament for any enforcement, Mr. Ayariga added.

“Cabinet has to show the legal basis for the directive that they have given. I am saying that Cabinet can meet and take policy decisions, but those policy decisions must be brought to Parliament, enacted into law, which then becomes the legal basis to stop people from behaving in a certain way.”

Gov’t must consider investments made

The directive ordering the cessation of the construction of fuel stations, marks the second major clampdown by the government, following the anti-Galamsey campaign championed by Citi FM, where a ban on small-scale mining was placed for six months, with an extension expected to follow soon.

The ban on small-scale mining, and the expected extension, has inconvenienced a number of legal small-scale operators, who have even taken to the streets in protest.

Mr. Ayariga said the government needed to be “mindful of the rights of economic actors who have legitimate expectations because they have obtained permits.

“…you can’t say that everybody who has a permit should suspend operations. That is economically not right, and not fair to people who have legitimate expectations and have secured bank loans and are making investments.”

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

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This directive formed part of nine safety measures outlined by the Presidency after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WcBgCXhQOqkOLuCxpVckVOFWZBdP4YIT”]A statement from the government noted that, President Nana Akufo-Addo has ordered the “immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.”

The directive follows the massive explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction that has so far claimed at least seven lives and injured over 100 persons.

Hours before the cabinet meeting in question, the Association of Oil Marketing Companies had appealed to the government to undertake a thorough examination of the Atomic Junction Gas explosion before coming out with any national policy on fire outbreaks at the pumps.

The aftermath of the explosion has seen protests against the siting of fuel stations deemed inappropriate because of their proximity to densely populated areas and commercial centres.

But the OMCs urged the government not to succumb to panic reactions from a section of the public, but come out with a holistic policy.

The government has not made any definite declaration of the siting of fuel stations, but has ordered the deployment of a task-force to assess the risk that “LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety” withing 30 days.

Find below the full statement from the Presidency, which outlines nine safety measures ordered by the President after the Cabinet meeting.

NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATORY MEASURES, FOLLOWING GAS EXPLOSION AT ATOMIC JUNCTION

On the evening of 7th October 2017, the nation was shaken by a horrible gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, which led to the loss of seven lives, 132 injuries and the destruction of valuable property. In the past three years, we have been subjected to eight such incidents of explosions. This latest incident was one too many, which we must take all necessary steps to bring to an end.

The importance of gas, and its use in our national economy, requires that we must develop and enforce regulations and practices, and deploy technology to ensure the safe use of gas and safety of our citizens.

At the Cabinet meeting of 12th October 2017, the President of the Republic, on the advice of Cabinet, directed that henceforth the Cylinder Recirculation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution be implemented. This model means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested commercial and population centers and will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas to vehicles. This whole exercise must be completed within one year.

In the interim, the President has directed that the following steps be taken to give comfort to and ensure the safety of our citizens:

1. immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
2. review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
3. institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
4. review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
5. deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
6. the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
7. the recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
8. expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law;
9. immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

The safety of citizens is the paramount objective of Government, and the President will take all necessary steps to ensure that citizens are safe.

……signed……

Hon. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid

Minister for Information

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

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The President said this directive will be implemented by a task-force without “regard to any political or special interests.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”cLSmGjclxkGFGp7xQqNOlVHd18lbql2r”]A statement issued by the presidency and signed by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, after the Cabinet meeting, said the decision, which is one of the nine directives issued out by the President, seeks to in the interim, “give comfort to and ensure the safety of our citizens.”

It said “Deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards.”

These directives followed the public outcry in the wake of the massive explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction.

That explosion has so far claimed at least seven lives and injured over 100 persons. The loss of lives even touched closer to the Presidency, as a presidential correspondent for Net 2 TV lost his life in the commotion sparked by the explosion.

The outrage of the explosion was the culmination of widespread concern over the lax safety standards of some LPG and petrol fill stations, which has seen about eight major explosions since 2014, not counting the June 3 fire and flood disaster at a petrol station near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Implement cylinder circulation program – Nana Addo orders

The President also ordered the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The module, proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), will ensure that LPG filling points are sited out of densely populated area and commercial centres.

This is unlikely to go down well with the LPG Marketers Association and the Association of Gas Tanker Drivers, who have in the past kicked against this proposal, citing job losses and other negative impact on their businesses.

The President expects this and some other directives issued after Thursday’s cabinet meeting, to be implemented within a year.

Find below the full statement from the Presidency, which also outlines nine safety measures ordered by hte President after the Cabinet meeting.

NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATORY MEASURES, FOLLOWING GAS EXPLOSION AT ATOMIC JUNCTION

On the evening of 7th October 2017, the nation was shaken by a horrible gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, which led to the loss of seven lives, 132 injuries and the destruction of valuable property. In the past three years, we have been subjected to eight such incidents of explosions. This latest incident was one too many, which we must take all necessary steps to bring to an end.

The importance of gas, and its use in our national economy, requires that we must develop and enforce regulations and practices, and deploy technology to ensure the safe use of gas and safety of our citizens.

At the Cabinet meeting of 12th October 2017, the President of the Republic, on the advice of Cabinet, directed that henceforth the Cylinder Recirculation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution be implemented. This model means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested commercial and population centers and will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas to vehicles. This whole exercise must be completed within one year.

In the interim, the President has directed that the following steps be taken to give comfort to and ensure the safety of our citizens:

1. immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
2. review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
3. institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
4. review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
5. deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
6. the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
7. the recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
8. expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law;
9. immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

The safety of citizens is the paramount objective of Government, and the President will take all necessary steps to ensure that citizens are safe.

……signed……

Hon. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid

Minister for Information
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By: Ebenezer AAfanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, such practice does not encourage fuel station owners to be responsible in adhering to the safety requirement with seriousness.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VazvFv4i0pgYiueddwaDLsDZ8Py5YZNy”]Mahama Ayariga noted that, if fuel station owners are made to bear the cost of such compensations, others will be forced to ensure discipline within the industry.

Speaking on Point Blank on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, Mahama Ayariga said, “in the US, UK and in other developed jurisdictions, owners of the facilities will be in the vanguard when it comes to ensuring safety at the facility because they know that if there is any damage to a third party, the government will not pay to help you out. You will be held accountable.”

“I think it is wrong…We’ve been engaged in the wrong practice, where somebody starts his business at a location, brings dangerous practice, undertakes to be careful, fails in his duty of care, the product escapes, kills, maims and damages people’s property, and I am made to pay for that while he and his insurers walk away,” he lamented.

While urging victims of fuel station accidents to sue the responsible companies, the Bawku Central legislator said, “It doesn’t help in the long-term because it doesn’t impose the kind of discipline that we need in the 2,900 other fuel stations in the country, and also in the 599 other gas stations across the country, because what will ensure our collective safety better is that discipline where individuals themselves are ensuring that they buy the best facilities and equipment, they employ the best people to run these facilities, and regularly train them to continue to monitor to ensure that the place is safe.”

Ayariga further insisted that, state agencies or the government ministries must be blamed for fuel stations that do not comply with safety standards.

According to him, the agencies are directly responsible for the issuance of permits and licenses, as well as periodic inspection of fuel companies to ensure they were operating appropriately.

7 people were killed, with 132 others injured, as two gas explosions occurred at Atomic junction in Accra on Saturday.

The explosions left many structures destroyed with some vehicles totally burnt. The incident has revived discussions about he safety compliance levels of fuel stations in the country, including the role of state agencies in ensuring that fuel stations were operating as expected.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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They were fined a total of ¢261,000 for serving customers with lower volumes of fuel, using non-approved GSA seals, and breaking GSA seals meant to stop cheating at the pumps.

The infographic below shows the breakdown of the ¢261,000 fine.

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By: Melvin Clottey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Breakdown of fines for 57 cheating fuel stations [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

People living close to these fuel stations have expressed fear about possible explosion and the resultant loss of lives and property, and are calling on authorities to shut down these facilities.

The recent gas explosion that claimed over seven lives and injured over 40 others at a gas station near La, has heightened the fears of residents.

Citi News’ Caleb Kudah has been to the area and filed the report below.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bawaleshie residents worried over closeness of fuel stations [Report] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Touting himself as the best candidate to win power for the NPP in the next elections, Mr. Kyeremanteng told the NPP’s New York Chapter on Friday that “the thought of losing” the next Presidential election was “frightening” and “difficult to contemplate.

The former Ghana Ambsassador to the United States of America under John Kufuor’s reign as President is in the American city on what he called “a short visit”. Over the weekend, he used his visit to the US to canvass for votes among party loyalists and potential delegates in New York ahead of the NPP’s presidential primary.

Mr. Kyeremanteng lost his first NPP flagbearership race to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in 2007. In 2010, Mr. Kyeremanteng again lost the NPP Presidential Primary to Nana Akufo Addo. Ahead of the 2016 elections the two men, including at least five other party heavyweights, have announced plans to run for the party’s Presidential ticket.

Addressing party loyalists over the weekend, Mr. Kyremanteng said party delegates must give him victory in the next Presidential Primary elections or risk losing the 2016 elections.

“I believe that our main focus as true genuine NPP members should be one thing –– how do we get back into power in 2016,” Mr. Kyeremanteng, who turns 59 in Octorber this year, declared. “For me this must be our overriding objective.”

He went on, “Whatever it takes for us to get into power in 2016; that is what we ought to do. And I am saying at all costs because the thought of not being in power in 2016 is so frightening that it is difficult to contemplate”.

But, he said, getting back into power will “require two things”. First, “we need to fix our” party, he said. Secondly, “we need to choose a leader that will restore us to power”.

According to the former Minister of Trade and Industry under President John Kufuor’s rule, “The first is a necessary condition but is not a sufficient condition. But if we have to fix our party …we have to make sure we mobilize the grassroots to be at the center of our campaign… If you don’t have an effective grassroots machine it is very difficult to win power”.

“Secondly, we need to work as a united family,” he said. “I believe what you hear or see in print may not be as frightening as what is on the ground. I am sure most of you may not know this but I have a very good relationship with Nana Akufo Addo… [And] we still maintain that relationship and I believe we will continue to do that”.

In calling for unity among the grassroots of the NPP in Ghana and around the world, Mr. Kyeremanteng said, “It is our challenge for all those who will be competing for leadership to make sure that we translate this brotherliness to our supporters on the ground. I think that is where the problem [is].”

“If we fix the party, I still believe that we need to be able to elect a candidate who the people of Ghana will vote because it is all about power; any other consideration must be secondary,” he stated.

After years in opposition, the NPP – led by John Kufour – formed a government in 2001 after winning Ghana’s national elections. In 2004, Ghanaians re-elected the NPP for another four-year term. In 2009, however, the NPP – led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo – lost power to Professor John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress, Ghana’s largest opposition at the time. Again, in 2012, Akufo Addo led the NPP to another election defeat.

According to Mr. Kyeremanteng, the NPP cannot afford to lose the next national elections and that the time has come for the party to give Ghanaian voters a new Presidential Candidate instead of repeating Nana Addo as its flagbearer.

“I want to be very upfront…I think that we have our own senior brother, Nana Akufo Addo. He’s represented the party very well on two previous occasions. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it’s not been possible for us to get into power. I think that we must explore other opportunities and that is why I will be putting myself up as a candidate when the nominations open and I am here to seek your support,” he said.

Mr. Kyeremanteng said the NPP lost the last two elections largely because of two main factors – apathetic party grassroots and swing voters who did not vote NPP.

“The challenge that we have is not convincing our core voters in the party,” he explained. “… Almost invariably you can imagine that if everything goes well you can expect that our core voters will vote for us. The difference lays in how we convince the swing voters …”

“Let us try to understand the psychology of these swing voters…” he explained. “They are swing voters because there are not aligned necessarily to any party. When you want to deal with a floating voter you’ve got to understand his psychology and almost invariably it is a question of this is the man I want… The advantage that I have is that I have an appeal, somehow, to these floating voters.”

“We have a margin of between 300[000] and 500,000 people who always decide the final vote and so I ask for your support because if indeed we can all work together to put me as the next flagbearer, I can assure you that 2016 we’ll be back in power,” he said to a rousing applause from his audience.

In April this year, NPP delegates elected a new national leadership to run the party for the next four years. However, the party is yet to announce the date for its national congress to elect a Presidential nominee for the 2016 national elections.

By: Richard Dela Sky/ citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP will lose 2016 if we field Nana Addo – Alan appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.