General News of Sunday, 20 May 2012

Source: Daily Guide

Danger At VIP

The GOIL Fuel Station at the VIP transport terminal at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra poses danger to people in that area, CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE has learnt.

GOIL has built two surface fuel tanks at the VIP transport terminal where a restaurant, Ashanti Home Touch, is also located.

According to sources, management ignored the concerns raised by some workers and observers.

When the paper spoke to Vincent Larbi, the Public Affairs Director of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), he explained that the station does not necessarily belong to GOIL but a subsidiary company or VIP.

He advised against smoking in and around the fuel station to avert any unfortunate situation.

The VIP terminal, he noted, would have been exposed to more harm if the tanks contained petrol, adding that both tanks contain diesel.

The source at the Fire Service said VIP terminal has only one entrance point which also serves as an exit.

He explained that the tanks at the entrance of the yard could trap people in the event of fire outbreak.

The fire service would therefore not recommend the site for investment.

However, a source close to management said it held a crisis meeting over the issue on Tuesday.

Key among the decisions taken at the meeting was the rapid consumption of the content of the tanks.

The source said May 28, 2012 the GOIL station would be moved from its current location and called on all concerned persons to remain calm since management would address their concerns.

The paper gathered that management decided to do so because parking space had become a problem since new buses were being acquired.