Danger looms; filling station sited close to schools

Owners and parents of pupils of Obek Preparatory and Young Royals Academy Schools at Manhean near Ablekuma in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region are battling with the owner of a fuel station.

The location of the fuel station, which is currently under construction, according to them, poses grave danger to both pupils of the two schools and also residents around.

According to them, all efforts to stop the owner of the under construction filling station have proved futile.

That situation is what has compelled managers of Obek Preparatory and Young Royals Academy Schools to send a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) requesting for the immediate stopping of the project.

The two-page petition, which was copied to the chief of Manhean, Assembly member for Manhean Electoral Area, Municipal Chief Executive of Ga West Municipal Assembly and Council of Elders of Manhean, expressed worry over the siting of the fuel station right in front of the two schools which is also close to residential facilities.

They complained that the danger posed by the filling station under construction was not only limited to the pupils, but more so, residents whose houses are close to it.

The petition, a copy of which is in the possession of Today, reads in part: “With reference to our letter dated January 2017, on the aforementioned subject, we wish to re-emphasise that the owner of the fuel station has revisited the activity to push ahead the project.”

It continues: “Foreseeing the danger that can occur in future if the project is not stopped, we wish to draw your attention, once again, to use your office to find a lasting solution to the matter.”

The petitioners went on to state that “we are kindly pleading with you to, as a matter of urgency, come and inspect where the fuel station is being constructed so that you will appreciate our concern.”

Meanwhile, some residents who could not hide their fear have demanded the immediate suspension of work on the fuel station.

Their fear is that the fuel station when completed will endanger lives and properties.

“This is not a commercial area, but a residential area and also there was no stakeholder consultation before the construction began. We do not need a fuel station here,” a resident of Manhean, Nii Akwanor, emphatically told Today.

“We [the residents of Manhean] are not happy about what is going on here—this filling station being built here will endanger our lives,” another resident, Mr. Emmanuel Asante, angrily said.