|
EPA cautions WAPCo against discharge
of irritant gas
Accra, Sept. 27, Ghanadot/GNA -
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday
directed the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) to
reduce the discharge of chemicals into the sea at Aboadze in
the Western Region since this was affecting the health of
the people and killing fish.
It further directed that WAPCo attended to the medical needs
of the people to forestall any eventualities.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company is undertaking
pressure testing at Aboadze but the discharge is causing an
offensive odour in the area.
WAPCo said last week that it had received reports from
Aboadze and Abuesi about an unpleasant odour close to its
construction site at Aboadze.
Speaking to the GNA in Accra, Mr Daniel Amlalo, Deputy
Executive Director of EPA, said since WAPCo started a
hydro-test of its lines on September 8, the people had been
complaining of persistent coughs, headaches and other
ailments due to the odour and irritant nature of the gas.
According to him, WAPco had admitted that the baseline
parameters obtained from testing, when it started its
initial discharge, was far above the EPA permissible levels
specified in the permit.
"We are asking them to follow laid down guidelines to save
life and property," Mr Amlalo said.
He said there had also been reported cases of WAPCO
employing people to collect dead fish from the shore as a
way of hiding evidence from the authorities and described
this as "unacceptable".
According to Mr Amlalo there were problems when the first
dose of the chemical was put in the pipeline in December
2006, with some of the solution being discharged.
A top-up was made in July 2007, which should have stayed in
the pipeline for eight months before being discharged, but
the Company started discharging the chemical in two months,
hence the odour.
Mr Amlalo said EPA had advised WAPCO to discharge 900
gallons of the chemical per minute instead of the 12,000. He
said based on reduction of flow rate, WAPCo should furnish
the EPA with when it would complete the discharge and the
total volume that would be discharged per day.
He also urged WAPCo to give EPA staff unlimited access to
the entire area.
Meanwhile, inhabitants of Aboadze in the Shama Ahanta East
Metropolis have accused WAPCo of failing to warn them about
its pressure testing and discharges into the sea.
They told the Ghana News Agency that the development had
caused cold, coughs, diarrhoea and difficulty in breathing
and other health related problems to the residents.
The residents said between September 9 and 20, this year,
they had to endure an odour, which smelt like carbide
emitting from the area and had a burning sensation in the
throat and expressed worry that the Company did not caution
them about the discharge.
They also claimed that over 20 assorted fishes collected
from the beach at Aboadze when the emission took place had
all died and had a foul odour.
They also alleged that management of WAPCO had asked someone
to collect dead fishes from the beach for burial without the
knowledge of the community.
The residents said the individual was asked to record the
type of fishes and date and time they were found on the
shore, among others.
Mr Paul N. K. Ackon, Secretary to the Aboadze Community,
called on WAPCo to pay compensation to the community, saying
the action by the Company was socially irresponsible and a
threat to the life of the inhabitants.
Mr Ackon said the west and east portions of the pipeline,
instead of being light blue in colour were brown.
He said some individuals who consumed dead fishes along the
coast had severe diarrhoea accompanied by vomiting, while
those who used the sea water for washing their buttocks at
the beach experienced severe burning sensations.
He said the odour could be mostly felt during the evening
and at dawn and this compelled many residents to re-locate
far from the beach.
Mr Ackon said the people had been asked to send any dead
fishes found along the beach to the elders for proper
disposal.
They have also been asked to avoid getting close to the
Company's pipeline.
He called on Government to send a medical team to the area
to avoid the outbreak of diseases.
WAPCo last Thursday said it had received reports from the
communities about an unpleasant odour.
A statement signed by Mrs. Harriet Wereko-Brobby, General
Manager, Corporate Affairs, said the company could not
confirm the source of the odour but had tasked its Health,
Environment and Safety Team to investigate.
According to the statement, WAPCo had also commissioned SGS
Laboratories to conduct an independent investigation into
the matters and report as soon as possible.
The statement explained that WAPCo, as part of its
activities to complete the gas pipeline, was currently
discharging water previously used to pressure test the
pipeline, into the ocean near these communities.
But said it could not confirm at this time that the odour
was from the discharge activity.
"WAPCo wishes to assure the general public that a statement
on its findings will be issued as soon as investigations are
concluded," the statement added.
GNA
|
