By The Catholic Standard
There has been a long-standing debate about the establishment of fuel stations close to residential areas in our cities and towns.
These fuel stations sited so close to homes and businesses pose great danger to lives and property. Unfortunately, the issue only comes up when there is a disaster.
Last Saturday, October 7, the nation’s capital was hit by a gas explosion at the Mansco Gas Filling Station at Atomic junction on the Legon – Madina Road in Accra.
The gas explosion reportedly killed seven people and injured about 132 others while many vehicles were set ablaze.
In the last three years, the nation has recorded eight of such explosions; one at Kasoa in the Central Region, another in Takoradi in the Western Region and six others at Nungua, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Trade Fair, Tema, Tulip Inn Hotel and Atomic Junction all in the Greater Accra Region.
Sadly, over 200 people have lost their lives in these gory accidents and many others maimed.
Responding to the recent Atomic Junction explosion, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hinted of the formulation of a comprehensive policy to check the recurrence of gas explosions in the country.
In our view however, the solution to these disasters is not the formulation of new Policies but the enforcement of already existing laws and regulations.
According to the National Petroleum Authority’s Regulations, gas and fuel Stations should be sited at a minimum of 30.8 meters or 100ft from residential areas but the situation on the ground is different.
It is time to sanction State Agencies and individuals in authority to ensure that laid down systems work to the letter. Very often, people in authority neglect their responsibilities and take things for granted because no punitive measures will be meted out to them.
Institutions such as the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Energy Ministry, the Ghana National Fire Service among others should be held responsible for such occurrences in one way or the other because they are supposed to conduct the necessary checks before issuing licenses to gas and fuel station operators.
We strongly condemn the ‘armchair inspection’ that is being done in the country and urge the respective authorities to do thorough checks to ensure that every criteria is met before licenses are issued to operators.
The Catholic Standard calls on government as a matter of urgency, to conduct an immediate safety audit of all fuelling stations and gas storage depots across the country to prevent this tragedy from recurring.
We further suggest that fuel and gas stations operating outside the regulations should be shut down to avoid such disasters.
The recent explosion is one too many and we should all come together to ensure that the right thing is done at the right time and done well.
Closure of Radio Stations
On the closure of some Radio stations, this Paper believes that it is the same irresponsible attitude of Officials that have led to the non-payment of Statutory debts by the Radio Stations to the National Communications Authority (NCA) resulting in the sanctioning of 131 FM Stations.
If not so, why did the Authority not insist on prompt payment but waited for the debts to accumulate for many years?
In our view, not only should the Radio Stations be punished but the Authority should also take some of the blame for not ensuring the strict adherence of the yearly payments.
We have to get more serious in this country. The time for the blame game should give way to efficient and effective discharge of duties and responsibilities.
