Tension Over Oil Plant

The tools Oasis workers were using in constructing the tanks       TENSION IS growing high at Kokompe in the Kpone-Katamanso District of the Greater Accra Region over a construction of oil storage tanks to be cited at a densely populated area by Oasis Lubricant Ghana Limited. The residents are appealing to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA) not to grant permits to the oil company because of the likely health implications. Although Oasis Lubricant Ghana Limited have not been given any go-ahead by the institutions responsible for issuing permits including the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the company had gone ahead to build storage tanks in the residential area, hence, infuriating the residents who have threatened to embark on demonstration and destroy their properties. Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that Oasis Ghana Limited had submitted documents to the TDC and KKDA to build offices for the company but suddenly started building oil tanks on the proposed site. The Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) in a letter to the TDC Managing Director, Mr Joe Abbey, signed by the Traditional Council Registrar, Mr Harry Attipoe called on the TDC to immediately suspend the process of documents to the oil company to construct an oil tank farm in the KKDA. Several attempts to stop the oil company from constructing the oil storage tanks on their traditional area had proved futile as management of the company are bent on continuing with the project. Mrs Evelyn Acquah of Oasis Lubricant Ghana Limited told DAILY GUIDE in a telephone interview that KKDA had issued permit to her outfit to build the oil tanks and had paid GH¢23, 000 as the cost of the permit for works on the site and are in the process of securing permit from GNFS and EPA for the project. Mr Vincent Yeboah, KKDA Project Engineer, however denied such payment to his outfit and issuing of permit to the lubricant company stating that “as far as I am concerned as the KKDA engineer, we have not issued permit to Oasis since GNFS, EPA. KTC and KKDA have to meet for final approval before permit is issued to the company.” The residents are fuming with rage and threatening to take the laws into their hands if any action is not taken.       Source: Vincent Kubi/Daily Guide