Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has ordered the immediate suspension of work on a new petrol station in Ashale Botwe.
Construction, which is being done by GOIL PLC, will stop until careful due diligence has been done.
This decision was made in response to objections from Ashaley Botwe locals who voiced worries about the fuel station’s proximity to their homes and the possible danger it poses to their lives.
Residents stressed that the area is primarily residential during the protest while wearing red bands to symbolise their displeasure. They also expressed concerns about the narrow road, which would make it difficult for fuel tankers to discharge safely.
“We don’t need any fuel station here, We don’t need it. This place is a residential area, our houses are closer to the place and our children pass here to go to school.
The road is even too small so where will the tanker pass to discharge, so we don’t need the fuel station here,” some residents told the media.
Mr. Henry Quartey told the media that the location of the fuel station poses a serious risk to the locals after visiting the area on Thursday, May 25.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be contacted to inquire about how permission for such a development in a residential area was obtained, he continued.
“While we will in no way restrict any investor or citizen from making investments that lead to the creation of jobs, we must be careful to ensure that the welfare, security, and wellbeing of the community are also taken into account. Given what transpired at Atomic Junction, it is obvious that this is untrue.
“I want to on behalf of REGSEC say that going forward all works here must be suspended until further notice. We will also write to EPA to find out how they arrived at granting permits for something like this to happen here…I am not an expert but this petrol station cannot be cited here,” he added
