The Manbah Gas Station, according to the Minister, is sited too close to the Abattoir which uses fire constantly in undertaking their activities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EfUKqq7aVgz7EDmpb5Yj9O7MW2C9dGds”]He noted that, the gas station also had no certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to operate.

The Minister has also directed other gas stations to halt their operations for further investigations.

Simon Osei Mensah together with officials from EPA, NPA, and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), inspected 13 gas stations within the Kumasi Metropolis to assess their safety standards.

The Regional EPA Director, Samuel Oteng said some of the gas stations will be taken through thorough safety audititing.

He tasked station managers to tighten their safety measures to prevent explosions.

The Ashanti Regional Public Relations officer of Ghana National Fire Service, Desmond Ackah, expressed worry about how most gas stations within the metropolis had no fire hydrants at their premises.

These actions and inspections have become necessary, following the Atomic Junction explosion that killed 7 people and injured eight (8) over 100 others.

As a result, government after a crucial cabinet meeting, ordered that all high-risk fuel stations be closed down to allow for a proper safety audit.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, also ordered the cessation of all facilities being constructed to serve as fuel stations across the country to allow authorities carry out the needed safety audit.

The President also ordered that the cylinder re-circulation policy be implemented within a year, a decision that has angered LPG Markers who closed down their facilities for less than a week in protest against the measures which they consider knee-jerk and a threat to their investments.

As part of the  cylinder re-circulation policy, consumers will buy cylinder bottles already filled with gas, and will not need to refill themselves at designated stations.

21 LPG stations shut down, more to follow – NPA

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has said it was already taking serious action against some fuel stations, before the new directives from President Nana Akufo-Addo, as it had already shut down 21 Liquefied Petroleum Gas filling stations across the country for failing safety standards.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Hassan Tampuli, said they hope to sustain the momentum in ensuring safety regulations are adhered to.

Construction of fuel stations ongoing despite President’s order

Construction works are ongoing at some of petrol stations in the Ashanti Region, despite a presidential fiat ordering the temporary cessation of the construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petrol/diesel retail outlets.

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.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Local elites and communities in remote areas protect pirates because they lack an income, it adds.

Foreign navies have a strong presence around Somalia in order to keep shipping lanes safe.

This has led to a decline in attacks off the Somali coast, with the UN estimating that about 40 people are still being held by pirates.

At the peak of their activity three years ago, the pirates held more than 700 crew members and more than 30 ships.

‘Import centre’

The World Bank estimates that pirates netted more than $400m (£230m) in ransom money between 2005 and 2012.

Somalia has been a largely lawless state since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.

Warlords, religious groups and clans have been fighting for control of Somalia.

The study, by the University of Oxford and King’s College London, says Somalia witnessed a surge in pirate attacks when territory was contested or elections took place.

This suggested the behaviour of clan leaders in Somalia was similar to that of politicians in Italy and Taiwan, who extended protection to criminals when they needed extra funds to further political ambitions, the study adds.

“Local communities support pirates when there isn’t a better alternative income stream,” said Federico Varese, a co-author of the report based at the University Oxford.

“By improving the infrastructure of Somalia, building new harbours and roads to link the remote areas to trade routes, our research concludes that poorer communities would be less likely to resort to piracy,” he added.

People in Somalia’s north-eastern city of Bosasso cut ties with pirates once the economy grew, the study says.

“As the city regained its importance as a major trading port for livestock and an import centre for the wider region, pirates were no longer tolerated – pirate hostages were freed and pirates were imprisoned by the local clan leaders,” the study adds.

Source: BBC

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He also renewed government’s commitment to provide tax incentives to manufacturing companies that make use of local raw materials.

Mr Iddrisu gave the assurance when he launched the new Distell Ghana Brewery Plant in Tema.

Distell Ghana Limited are the distillers of Hunters’Gold and Savannah Dry Cider Beer, Knights and a Royal Reserve Whiskies, Amarula, wines, Brandys and gin across the continent and beyond.

The establishment of the plant in Ghana is an indication that those beverages would no longer be imported from South Africa, but would be produced in Ghana to serve the West African market.

Mr Iddrisu said investment is expensive and government would therefore do everything possible to protect investors in the country to reap the benefits of their investment.

He called on all to report any malpractices in the areas of smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy to the appropriate authorities for redress.

He appealed to the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority to step up their surveillance system to stem those practices that have the tendency to thwart the efforts of local industries.

The Trade Minister said government is reviewing the government warehouse laws  for Customs Division to work day and night to facilitate the movement and clearance of goods and services at the country’s ports and harbours.

Mr Iddisu said government would also bring together stakeholders to brainstorm on how to cushion the local industries in their bid to expand production and create job opportunities for the Ghanaian youth.

Mr Richard Rushton, Distell Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said Ghana is the company’s first Greenfield investment although they had over the years exported their products to many parts of Africa.

He explained that the investment in Ghana signifies the confidence the company has in Ghana in doing responsible, sustainable and profitable business, with a total of GH₵ 16 million investment.

He commended government for turning Ghana into an attractive business destination and a major location in the heart of West Africa and said the corporate entity would sustain government- business relations to yield dividends for all parties.

The CEO said while producing alcoholic beverages, Distell has been cautious against harmful effects of alcohol and would therefore partner government to fight counterfeiting and piracy that could supply wrong products to the detriment of consumers.

He said the plant in Ghana would not only serve consumers in the country, but products would also be supplied to neighbouring Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire among others.

Executive Chairman of FINATRADE Group of Companies, Mr Nabil Moukarzel,said the partnership between his outfit and Distell Ghana Limited would create more jobs and bring the goods and services to the door- steps of Ghanaian consumers.

He pleaded with government to create a tariff offset programme for progressive businesses that support and source from local producers and a penalty system for non- compliant importers.

Mr Moukarzel called for the strengthening of security at the entry and exit points of the country to stem to alarming practices of smuggling goods and services into the country to the detriment of genuine business.

Source: GNA

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