{"id":383267,"date":"2017-12-14T16:19:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T16:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=383267"},"modified":"2017-12-15T17:26:32","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T17:26:32","slug":"kutunse-residents-to-demonstrate-against-illegal-tomato-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/12\/kutunse-residents-to-demonstrate-against-illegal-tomato-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"Kuntunse residents to demonstrate against illegal tomato factory"},"content":{"rendered":"
The residents of Kuntunse have announced their intention to embark on a peaceful demonstration on Saturday, December 16, 2017 as part of an ongoing protest against the activities of an illegal tomato factory in the area.<\/p>\n
According\u00a0to a letter to the District Commander of Police for Adjen Kotoku, the two-hour long peaceful demonstration will commence at 8 am from the main Kutunse-Satellite junction along the Amasaman-Kumasi highway.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”tF7J8ZLCW8X9Oizcj6yvLs1YFNsG8MG3″]The letter added that the residents will then proceed with the peaceful march through the main street to the Koans Estates and return to the main entrance of Happy Sunshine Company Limited, the tomato company being protested against.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, it is our view that the operations of happy sunshine company limited, in apparent defiance of a cessation order [a copy of which is attached to this letter] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the company\u2019s management, constitute not only a matter of egregious violate the sanctity of Ghana\u2019s laws, but also a brazen challenge to the revered authority of the state of Ghana,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n
The EPA shut down the facility<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>after a series of Citi News<\/strong> reports had revealed that the company was operating illegally in the residential area.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, despite the order from the EPA and complaints from the residents, the factory has reopened and is operating<\/strong> <\/a>again, with the support of the Ga West Municipal Assembly led by the District Chief Executive,\u00a0Clement Wilkinson.<\/p>\n This has prompted the residents to\u00a0threaten a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),\u00a0the owners of the facility as well as the Municipal Assembly.<\/p>\n ‘Relocate’<\/strong><\/p>\n The EPA had earlier held a closed-door meeting between management of the factory where the company was directed to move its operations<\/strong><\/a> to an industrial area, as their current location has not been zoned for such activities.<\/p>\n