Ayariga on warpath against illegal fuel stations
Owners of fuel stations who use their premises to engage in other business activities deemed dangerous have been asked to cease such operations.
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The Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation on Monday issued the directive after the sector Minister, Mahama Ayariga, and officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toured a number of fuel stations in Accra.
According to Mr Ayariga, activities such as preparing food for restaurants attached to the stations were dangerous.
All stations that engaged in such activities were therefore issued with cessation orders on Monday morning during the Minister’s tour.
Mr Ayariga explained his tour was to assess compliance with laid down environmental standards following last Wednesday’s fire at the Goil fuel station at Nkrumah Circle that killed over 100 people.
During the tour, it was revealed that many stations that otherwise have valid permits tend to carry out additional activities at the station that are dangerous such as preparing food for restaurants attached to the station.
The Minister said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will return to the various stations to see if the orders have been complied with.
A fuel station which was being constructed without permit from the EPA on the Baatchona road was identified and the contractors were asked to stop work.
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Mr Ayariga said a task force will continue the exercise until all 3400 filling stations across the country have been covered and therefore called for support and cooperation from the public.
Fines and penalties are to be imposed on violators to cover the cost of the exercise.
