News Desk Report
Ghanaians have expressed concern about the indiscriminate siting of gas and petrol stations across the country following the recent explosion at the Mansco Gas Filling Station at Atomic Junction on the Legon – Madina Road in Accra.
The gas explosion which affected an adjacent Fuel Filling Station reportedly killed seven people and injured about 132 others while many vehicles were set ablaze.
Hundreds of residents and traders around the area took to their heels without any destination in mind.
This event has reignited the long standing controversy about the indiscriminate siting of fuel stations in our cities and towns.
Over the last three years, the nation has recorded eight major gas explosions, six in the Greater Accra Region and one each in the Western and Central Regions, causing about 250 deaths.
Many Ghanaians have linked the spate of explosions in the country to the indiscriminate siting of gas and fuel Stations at every available space and called on the Environmental Protection Agency and the appropriate authorities to address the situation.
Speaking on the incident, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that the government would come up with a comprehensive Policy to check the recurrence of gas explosions in the country.
He called for the support of Ghanaians to ensure the success of the Policy to prevent such future occurrences.
Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia on his part, said there had been a long-standing debate about the establishment of fuel stations close to residential areas, lamenting that due to the lack of political will, the issue comes up only when there is a disaster.
He noted that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Energy Ministry, the Ghana National Fire Service and other Stakeholders would be involved in the formulation of the new Policy to ensure that the issue is addressed holistically.
The Vice President reiterated that “It is not about Committees upon Committees and nothing gets done. I think that we owe it to the country and the government is going to take this very seriously to deal with the situation once and for all.”
Meanwhile the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference through its President, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, expressed its condolence to those who have lost their dear ones and prayed for the speedy recovery of the victims of the explosion.
