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.

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.