Ghana EPA asked to be proactive to protect the environment in oil sector

Awulae Annor Adjaye, President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, has claimed that the inaction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in prosecuting environmental offenders is encouraging the violators to have a field day.

Awulae Adjaye, was contributing to a discussion on the development of the Local Content Bill at Half Assini at the weekend.

He explained that a critical look at Tarkwa, Obuasi and other mining communities in the country showed a gross abuse of the environment.

Awulae expressed the need for the EPA to sanction oil companies that would pollute the environment whilst doing business in the country’s fledgling offshore oil business.

He said the laws must be applied to safeguard the country’s interest in the oil sector and prevent anybody  from dumping hazardous materials and chemicals into the sea and at the coastal towns of Ghana, as it happened in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire.

Awulae Adjaye noted that the draft policy vested too much powers in the Minister of Energy, which should rather be transferred to Parliament to prevent arbitrariness.

He suggested the need for a special fund to be set aside to deal with emergencies like oil spillage.

Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Deputy Minister of Energy, appealed to all coastal communities to work hard to protect the environment and avoid degradation.

He said recruitment of personnel to manage and operate the Floating Production and Storage Offshore, required highly educated and skilled personnel and charged the youth to take their education seriously to be able to take advantage of it in future.

“In competition, the one with the requisite skills will get the opportunity and there is the need for all. desirous of working in the oil sector to prepare themselves for that.

Source: GNA