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.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lrkPwGD79mdJiizpRWn4NUHnAydjoHQ7″]However, the management of the tomato factory violated the order and resumed full production in November.

Residents of Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the area where the Chinese factory operates, have since raised concerns about how the activities of the company, which they say is affecting through noise, air and environmental pollution.

The residents, who held a meeting with the MCE in a bid to get him to ensure the company’s closure and subsequent relocation, accused him of rather shielding the company at the expense of their health.

The EPA on the other hand, appeared adamant, after their initial orders were disrespected with the tacit support of the  Ga West Municipal Assembly intervened.

A statement signed by Prof. Frimpong Boateng and copied to the Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Flagstaff House, the Chief Executive Officer of the area among others, pointed out that several attempts to get the Tomato Factory to stop production had been unsuccessful.

“It has come to my notice that contrary to several directives to stop production of canned tomato paste at the Kuntunse (i.e production , packaging, warehousing etc.), you continue to operate in violation of your obligation under EPA Act 1994, Act 490, and the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999, LI 1652.”

Quoting section 14 of the EPA Act, 1994, the Minister therefore ordered that the Tomato Factory “stops production of canned tomatoes and comply with the enforcement notice with immediate effect.”

“I am by this letter also directing the Divisional Commander Ghana Police Service, Amasaman, to take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with this directive. Take Note and Notice is hereby served that any person who hinders or obstructs any other person acting under this section commits an offence and is liable to prosecution.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Frimpong Boateng orders closure of Tomato factory at Kuntunse 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.

–

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.

Residents at Korleman City, an estate at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, have raised concerns about how the activities of the company are 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.

Independent investigations by the EPA revealed that, the tomato factory was operating illegally and the agency proceeded to fine the company GHc15,000.

The company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

The factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, stopped operating for a while, but has now resumed full production again.

Alhough the Happy Sunshine company operates within the jurisdiction of the Ga West Municipal Assembly, the assembly has refused to comment on the matter.

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

The post Kuntunse: ‘Illegal’ Chinese tomato factory operating again appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Citi News investigations have revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the company to stop production but according to the residents, fumes billowing from the chimneys of the factory are affecting their health.

Citi News’ Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo has been following the story and filed the report below.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kuntunse residents raise alarm over filthy Chinese factory [Reports] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Show details

This week, the show is recorded in Johannesburg.

Gary Al-Smith explores a preview of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the Soweto Derby on Saturday. We hear from the Ghana FA and get the latest insight on the sad story of the 21-year-old ref who died in their lower divisions.

Kenyan journalist Jeff Kinyanjui complains about the continuous poor performances in African club events by their teams, veteran journalists Mark Gleeson, Thomas Kwenaite, Jeff Katala and Sizwe Mabena speak on the seeming love affair between Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah and his former boss Milovan Rajevac ahead of the World Cup.

Also Nigeria’s first German-born international Leon Balogun gives his his first interview for African radio. Plus British journalist Dominic Fifield of the Guardian has inside knowledge of the Samuel Eto’o v Jose Mourinho “age cheating” issue.

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Presented by Gary Al-Smith and produced by Nathan Quao/Gary Al-Smith for Citi FM & Supersport.com.

Soundtrack details
Song Title: Someway Bi
Artist Name: M.anifest
Produced by: Yung Fly
Singitdamnit Music/Cumbancha Music Publishing (BMI) 2013

More detail: Twitter.com/FCAfrica or Facebook.com/FCAfricaRadio

Follow @FcAfrica

The post FC Africa ep 2: Leon Balogun interview, Soweto Derby & ref death in Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.