Two others are said to have suffered various degrees of injury, and are receiving treatment at the Ekwe Hospital.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3VuH8woFERdb8qCXe9uF8PZjdLrBzI1A”]The gas tanker was en-route to the Atuabo Gas processing plant site from Takoradi when the driver noticed a fault.

He then proceeded to a welding shop to get the suspected gas leak fixed.

The tanker then exploded killing a welding apprentice on the spot, and injuring three others, according to the Ellembelle District Police Commander, Superintendent Thomas Bayor.

“There was some type of leakage so the driver invited a welder who came to weld and because of the lighting of the flame, the tanker exploded and there were four people around so three were injured and one died on the spot,” Supt. Bayor said.

The driver’s conductor, who was among the injured, later died from his injuries at the Ekwe Mission Hospital.

The deceased persons have been identified as Samuel Kenyah, the welder apprentice, and Amos Tetteh, the driver’s mate.

The other two injured persons have also been identified as Michael Boavo, 26, and Jackson Bosompem, 23, both welders are currently receiving treatment at the Ekwe Hospital.

The driver is also assisting the Elembelle Police with investigations into the incident.

100 injured in 2017 Takoradi explosion

This is the first major gas explosion in 2018 which has recorded fatalities.

The Western Region witnessed a major gas explosion in May 2017, when two gas tankers exploded when they were discharging gas at a fuel station on the Sekondi-Takoradi road.

This explosion left over 100 persons injured including Ghana Fire Service personnel, students at a nearby school, and employees of a Metro Mass depot.

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By: Kojo Ennimil Arthur/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post W/Region: Gas tanker explosion kills two at Baku appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Nzema chiefs reject Dr. Ben Asante as Ghana Gas CEO

Just when people were about drawing down the curtain on the excitement of NPP’s victory in the 2016 election,  and appointments were being dished out, that some Nzema Chiefs declared their displeasure over the selection of Dr. Ben Asante as CEO of Ghana Gas.

Some Ghanaians, including a few prominent Nzemas expressed their displeasure with the chief’s rejection of Dr. Ben Asante; whose technical competence is enormous in the field.

The rejection which was largely based on ethnic considerations fell flat, as the President’s appointee was eventually confirmed and accepted.

Appointment of Charles Bissue as presidential staffer

Stan Xoxe Dogbe, a presidential staffer under President Mahama had then got many Ghanaians talking about how he handled members of the Presidential Press Corps and other related matters. He successfully marketed the position “presidential staffer” and got many persons talking about it.

So when a letter of appointment came for Charles Onuawonto Cromwell Bissue, Western Regional Secretary of the ruling NPP as presidential Staffer, several inhabitants of the region mostly NPP supporters were excited.

Charles Bissue was viewed as one of the hardworking NPP executives in the region.

Five Chinese and five Ghanaians arrested on Ankobra River

Illegal mining was still ravaging havoc to the environment, particularly on the three major rivers in the region; River Pra, Ankobra and Tano.

The Chinese nationals had developed a ship-like vessel in the middle of the Ankobra River which served as the source of raw water for Ghana Water Company Limited for residents in Nzema East Municipal and the Ellembelle Districts.

They were mining in the middle of the River. These 5 Chinese and their five Ghanaian counterparts were arrested and arraigned at a Sekondi High Court. Currently, all of them are on bail as the trial continues.

GHUMCO Gas explosion

On May 9th, the Western Regional capital of Sekondi-Takoradi was rocked with a gas explosion that occurred at about 7:30am that Tuesday.

Over 180 people were injured, but no life was lost. Of the injured, 15 were staff of GHUMCO, 7 were firefighters from the regional fire department, 6 students and many other persons.

The emergency preparedness of the Western Regional Hospital, Effia Nkwanta and other health facilities were tested.

The company is yet to pay any compensation to the victims as had been promised.  The company as at December 2017, still owes the Takoradi Government Hospital over Gh10,000.

Wassa Akropong riots

Whist persons affected by the gas explosion were about getting off their sick bed in the region, Wassa Akropong, a town that was yet to come to terms with how illegal mining was taking away its vibrancy, as a Chinese Casino operator in the town Jian Gen Hai, reportedly shot and killed a 30-year old Ghanaian, Nana Boah, during a misunderstanding over payment for a job that had been done for the Chinese national.

The case was transferred to the Takoradi District Court where it was adjourned to 13^th December 2017. The case was later adjourned to January 2018, after a plea for bail was not granted.

Splitting Western Region

Another story that got the people of Western Region talking was when the processes to begin a possible split of the Region were commenced by the NPP government.

Consultations by the 9-member commission of enquiry first met petitioners for the split in Accra. It was followed by consultations with the media, the regional house of chiefs and later 6 other engagements in Sekondi Takoradi, Enchi, Wassa Akropong, Adabokrom, Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani.

Findings from the consultations are yet to be released by the commission, which will approve the  split or otherwise.

Shooting of GSTS Student Lawrence Baidoo

Just as the year was ending, a 17-year old final year student of the Ghana Secondary Technical School, who had just finished his Elective Maths paper before the Christmas vacation, Lawrence Baidoo, was shot and killed on Friday evening when Detective Corporal Adjei Shaibu, allegedly mistook him and his four other unarmed friends for armed robbers.

The shot also injured Kobina Dorkpoh, one of the five friends who is hospitalized at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital. The five were attending a musical concert at Shama Junction.

The case is now before the Takoradi District Court which has been adjourned to January 12, 2018.

Meanwhile, counsel for the accused, Edmond Acquaah Arhin, has strangely denied that his client was not around the scene at the time the incident happened.

–

By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 7 stories that got Western Region talking in 2017 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Consequently, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) closed down 71 filling stations due to non-compliance with some regulatory and technical requirements.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4Zzm0udmjLzlBS3NKgGrbEluCs1Wkf7P”]However, 26 of the filling stations closed down have been re-opened after comprehensive inspections were carried out by the Inspections and Monitoring Unit of NPA.

This means 45 LPG filling stations remain closed.

An additional 37 filling stations have been earmarked for closure when the level of their stocks reduces to levels within the safety zone.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPA, Hassan Tampuli announced this at the launch of the National Petroleum Safety Campaign, under the theme ‘People Safety First’.

The campaign is intended to raise awareness for the adherence to safety protocols in the petroleum downstream industry, and to educate the public on their role in preventing fires at all petroleum installations and other locations in the country.

114 Out of 276 LPG stations in full compliance

A total of 114 out of the 276 LPG stations inspected by NPA were found to be in full compliance with the prescribed safety standards.

This means 162 LPG stations were found not to be in full compliance with the prescribed safety standards.

Action has been taken against 108 LPG stations, and the NPA is still working to arrive at a decision on the remaining 54 stations found not to be in full compliance with all regulatory and technical requirements.

582 LPG stations in operation

Out of the 636 registered number of refilling plants, 54 are not in operation, leaving 582 in operation.

Tampuli announced that NPA has constituted a committee to oversee the activities of a taskforce that would undertake a comprehensive risk assessment of the existing LPG infrastructure in the country.

According to him, the criteria for categorising the stations into low- or high-risk will include siting or location of the station.

He noted that the compatibility of the station with surrounding activities would be physically assessed to inform the ranking of the facility, and the station must also meet the required minimum safety distances.

He added that the facility layout and the engineering shall conform to strict standards, saying the material of construction shall be appropriate and non-combustible, with the requisite anti-fire or resistant properties.

Also, he said, facilities without the incorporation of active safety systems shall be closed down to avoid any poor containment incident.

Operations and management

The NPA CEO said the assessment would also cover the operations and general management of the facility, and all staff within the facility should demonstrate adequate knowledge of handling LPG and the standard operating procedures.

“High-risk stations will be closed down while low-risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved standards.

“As you are aware, Cabinet has approved the introduction of the Cylinder Recirculation Model of LPG distribution where individuals will no longer own LPG cylinders.

“The NPA is currently developing the implementation strategy of the model, which will be rolled out within one year.
“In the coming weeks, the authority will publish the licensing requirements for setting up LPG bottling plants,” he added.

Tampuli urged the general public to adhere to the safety precautions being propagated, saying safety is a shared responsibility.

He stated that the NPA has intensified its monitoring and inspection activities, in collaboration with other agencies, including the Ghana National Fire Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Factories Inspectorate Department.

The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital shows a worrying trend where between 35% and 40% of all burns cases admitted at the centre are caused by petroleum products since 2011, and the number has been on the rise, year on year.

It is further reported that about 45% of deaths recorded at the centre were caused by virtue of various degrees of burns resulting from petroleum and gas-related explosions suffered by the victims, resulting in their untimely death.

Tampuli said the authority views this trend as horrifying, and is intensely working to raise awareness on television, radio and various media outlets on safe ways of handling petroleum products to curb injuries and deaths from LPG, petrol, premix and other petroleum-related fires.

It is pertinent to know that some of the recent accidents in the country were caused by human factors such as failure to observe basic safe operating procedures, lack of awareness, and a complete lack of demonstrable knowledge in products handling.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who read the speech of Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, revealed that in spite of the dangers of poor safety and regulatory regimes, regulators continue to allow special interests to undermine their enforcement of safety regulations, putting the lives and property of people on the line, and, consequently, projecting the petroleum industry as insensitive, irresponsible and only motivated by profits.

Calling for an end to the laxity, he encouraged industry players to take the bold step of formulating industry safety standards through industry associations and peer review each other, and where necessary delist peers who are not keeping up with standards.

According to him, this would not only complement the role of regulators, but would embolden them to take decisive disciplinary actions against offending industry players based on industry recommendations.

He said it is essential that the NPA deemed it imperative to intensify its public education campaign on the safe use and handling of this product.

He urged the NPA and other regulators of the downstream petroleum industry to intensify their inspection regime to ensure safety compliance in the industry.

“It is in this light that my ministry has given the green light for the NPA to partner with relevant stakeholders to deploy 200 safety auditors to augment the already existing safety measures to ensure safety standards at various petrol/diesel and gas stations across the country,” he added.

–

Source: Finder

The post Over 100 LPG stations fail NPA test, 71 closed down appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The school children are afraid to go to the park to participate in Physical training, due to the T-Terkpor Gas Filling Station.

The T-Tekpor Gas station, which shares a common wall with the Tema Ridge school and the Tema International School, is located between the two schools at Tema Community 21.

Citi News gathered that, the gas station has changed ownership three times since it started operations in the area somewhere in 2008, five years after the establishment of both schools in the area.

The gas station borders the Tema Ridge school on the left, and the Tema international school on the right side.

“Some of the kids sometimes complain of the smell of gas while playing on the field so ever since the explosion occurred at Atomic junction, the school children have resolved not to play on the field due to the fear of any form of explosion,” a worried proprietress lamented to Citi News.

They noted that, it is about time relevant authorities take the bull by the horn to ensure the immediate relocation of the gas station since it posed a real danger to the lives of the over one thousand five hundred school children in the immediate catchment area.

“We have written several letters since 2008 to the National Petroleum Authority, the Energy Ministry, Office of the President, Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Tema Development Corporation among others but to no avail. Why must we sit and wait till the unexpected happens before we act?. Ever since we started pursuing this relocation of the gas filling station some eight years ago, it has changed hands three times from one owner to the other.”

Citi News’ visit to the area revealed that there are some other schools also close to the gas station, apart from the Tema Ridge School and  the Tema International School, which also stand the risk of getting affected should there be any explosion.

Activities of some artisans such as welders and mechanics are also not far from the gas station.

The heads of the schools noted that, several appeals have fallen on deaf ears without any response. They have thus appealed to authorities to act swiftly to save them from any future catastrophe.

“This is a very grave danger it poses, the reality of the matter is that, in the event of an accident, evacuating little children is going to be very difficult. One wonders what could happen if something goes wrong. This is the time to let reasoning prevail because there’s been so many explosions in the last three years alone and we started this effort more than eight years ago and we are still on it. As Ghanaians, we should face the realities of the times and realise that citing of a gas plant is incompatible with other activities like school. We appeal to relevant authorities to take the necessary and courageous steps to get this danger removed” another school head noted.

The Assembly Member for the Niiman Electoral Area, Charles Kissi, noted that he has written many times to EPA, and other relevant agencies for the possible closure and relocation of the gas station but to no avail.

“We were invited to a meeting last week by the NPA, but I wasn’t happy with the outcome of the meeting which suggested that we reason with the station owner for the possibility of relocating. Why must we look at the possibilities of relocating it either than the NPA stamping its authority and giving a direct directive for the station to close down?”

Mr. Kisi revealed that, the T-Terkpor gas station has no permit with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, and sees no reason why authorities are adamant in closing it down.

“As we speak, the T-Terkpor Gas station has no permit, so why must we lobby such an organization that poses danger to hundreds of innocent children?” Mr. Kissi angrily narrated.

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tema: Children shun school park for fear of gas explosion appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglatey, told Citi News firemen immediately rushed to the scene when they received information there was fire in the engine compartment of a gas tanker.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yIfN2fPAjd4VDuTPuA9YtadIXtl1cOyE”]“We had a call that there was a gas tanker at Achimota bridge area and we dispatched our people to the scene… When they got there, they saw that it was a gas tanker engine compartment that was actually on fire but the timely intervention of the Fire Service brought the fire under control,” Mr. Anaglatey explained.

This incident comes days after a gas explosion left seven dead and several others injured at Atomic junction in Accra.

Following the explosion, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) boss, Hassan Tampuli, revealed that his outfit had identified some safety lapses at the MANSCO Liquefied Petroleum Gas station, where the explosion occurred, and had written to the station, among others, to rectify the lapses by September 4.

The NPA also noted that, there was too much activity on the forecourt around the cylinder filling and auto gas area, and that there was a lack of safety signs and the absence of a waiting area for customers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), had admitted some culpability, but said some other agencies also had various roles to play in regulating the operations of the station.

Government has also announced the implementation of a cylinder re-circulation policy within the next one year, a policy some LPG distributors are kicking against.

Government after a cabinet meeting, also announced a number of measures all in a bid to curtail explosions at gas and petrol/diesel filling points.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Fire Service averts gas explosion at Achimota appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is to protest government’s decision to implement the cylinder re-circulation module, which was proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure that LPG filling points are sited out of densely populated areas and commercial centres.

These plants will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets and stations, deemed to be low risk, after government’s assessment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FtnLFFCcU91RHKgNkKXJTy1NNW4rORZ4″]Citi News sources say the policy was developed in 2012, but it could not be immediately implemented.

However, following a massive gas explosion at Atomic Junction about two weeks ago, President Nana Addo issued a directive for the policy to be implemented.

In reaction to this, Citi News has gathered that the Ghana LPG Marketing Companies and its affiliates, are planning to lay down their tools on Wednesday, October 18 to register their disquiet.

The 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 over the explosion was the culmination of widespread concern over the lax safety standards of some LPG and petrol filling stations, which have 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.

Cylinder Recirculation Module will collapse our businesses – LPG marketers

The threat of a strike comes days after the Public Relations Officer of the LPG Marketers Association, Bernard Owiredu, expressed his outfit’s disquiet over plans to introduce the module.

Mr. Owiredu had indicated that, the current module is targeted at collapsing their businesses, despite their many years of existence in the industry.

Cylinder circulation won’t favour the poor – COPEC

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), also raised concerns about the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution, suggesting it may burden poor Ghanaians.

The Chamber’s Executive Director, Duncan Amoah, noted the inflexibility of the programme and suggested the old system of distribution be employed alongside the new module ordered by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

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By: Marian Ansah & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post LPG distributors threaten strike over cylinder re-circulation policy appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In his view, this only amounts to “wasting a fire man’s time.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”9D4CNMCtZavUZTkvQRMcITeaWoTZ8f25″]Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Wereko-Brobby said,” I don’t really see that we need to go and deploy fire service people because they’ve already got so many challenges. Instead, we need to ensure that every station that discharges gas, has the right equipment, knows the right procedure, knows what to do. It’s not about actually wasting a fire man’s time to go and stand at the station. That will not solve the problem… the onus is upon the OMCs members who operate these stations to ensure that things which are likely to create danger are not anywhere near your station.”

His comments follow the fire service’ intention to include as part of its regulations, the mandatory supervision of LPG delivery to stations by a fire personnel. This practice is to ensure that safety procedures are adhered to avoid mishaps.

This policy intention comes on the back of the gas explosion that occurred at Atomic junction in Accra, last Saturday.

Seven persons died, and some 132 others were injured in the unfortunate incident, raising to eight, the number of gas explosions at delivery points Ghana has witnessed in the last four years.

Last Saturday’s gas explosion reignited conversations on where fuel stations in the country should be sited.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby, who is the Chief Executive of the Ghana Institute for Public Policy Options (GIPPO), further asserted that in addition to poor maintenance culture, too much is spent on unnecessary talk instead of critically tackling matters to the core.

“The thing we don’t do well is sustaining safety operation of preventive measures. We get into these situations and you realize that everybody is talking plenty. What we need to do is to ensure that the rules and regulations that govern all these things are not only set in law, but systematically and regularly sustained and always monitored to ensure that everyone is doing the right thing.”

“There should be strict enforcement right from the word go of all the rules and regulations that govern filling stations and gas plants; starting with making sure that anybody who hasn’t got a license to operate a gas station should be closed down…. No excuses should be given. I really don’t think we’re dealing with rocket science here,” he added.

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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline/Ghana

The post Supervising fuel stations a waste of Firemen’s time – Wereko-Brobby appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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

The post Suspending construction of fuel stations ‘illegal’ – Ayariga warns appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

These safety measures are aside President Nana Akufo-Addo ordering the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4KyBwZARzsLWG9C347hXLU0dt9hHEvrv”]Key are among these measures is the impending closure of high-risk fuel stations across the country within 30-days, and the halting of the construction of new petrol/diesel and LPG filling points nationwide.

These measures, announced in a statement from government, are in direct response to the explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction, that has so far claimed at least seven lives and injured over 100 persons.

In the wake of that disaster, President Akufo-Addo has directed the following:

• immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
• review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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,” the statement concluded.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cabinet’s 9 ‘tough’ decisions to curb fuel explosions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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

The post Construction of new fuel stations halted by gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.