|
Court overrules
environmental concerns - EPA
Accra, Oct. 11, Ghanadot/GNA - The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) on Thursday said it rejected an application for
the construction of an LPG filling station around Wesley
Grammar School at Dansoman, but a court order compelled them
to issue the permit later.
Mr. Daniel S. Amlalo, Deputy Executive Director, told the
Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra that when the
owner of the gas station, Mr Hayford Adjei submitted an
application for an environmental permit along the access
road to Wesley Grammar School in March 2005, the application
was refused.
Residents of the area have been questioning why the EPA and
Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) have allowed gas station
to be sited in a residential areas.
Mr Amlalo explained that the EPA refused to grant an
environmental permit on grounds of inappropriate location.
"This was after our team had visited the site and held
consultations with the neighbourhood.
"Results, from the consultation raised concerns with respect
to the (location) of the station particularly in relation to
the activities of welders and an alcoholic distillery
factory operating in close proximity to the site and the
adjoining residential facilities."
Mr Amlalo said the proponent who was dissatisfied with the
adverse decision of the EPA appealed to the Minister of
Environment and Science for redress.
The Minister duly constituted a technical review committee
to hear the case in line with Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) procedures, which made room for such an
appeal.
Mr Amlalo said the committee after duly considering the case
and visiting the site, also refused to grant the permit.
"The proponent subsequently sued the Agency in a High Court
for refusing to grant an environmental permit for the
project.
"Ruling was delivered on 27th February 2007 in his favour.
The Agency was therefore compelled by an order of mandamus,
suit numbered B MISC- 723/2006), to reverse its original
decision.”
Mr Amlalo said an environmental permit Number 1730 was
therefore issued to Hayford Adjei Ventures for the proposed
station at Dansoman on May 30, 2007 in compliance with the
court order.
He appealed to people interested in undertaking development
projects to abide by requirements of EIA since it was the
main management tool being used in Ghana presently.
He said the proponent and society benefited from the EIA
since it predicted likely problems, conflicts and
constraints and determined ways to minimize or avoid them.
"EIA provides means for all parties to be consulted,
including public involvement, for agreement to be reached
between stakeholders and proponent…,” Mr Amlalo said.
GNA
|
