We have slept on our mandate – Mahama Ayariga

daniel russell

June 9, 2015 3:25 PM

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM, Mr. Ayariga stated that, there are many filling stations sited in unauthorized locations and have no permits to operate as well.

The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahama Ayariga, says institutions tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the country is well managed have failed.

Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM, Mr. Ayariga who is currently touring fuel filling stations in Accra to assess at first hand their compliance with environmental best practices and related laws regulating their operations stated that, there are many filling stations sited in unauthorized locations and have no permits to operate as well.

He however noted that others were operating with permits from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and Town & Country Planning Department among others but were engaged in other businesses not permissible by law.

“There is an institution failure across board …from Metropolitan and District Assemblies to Town & Country Planning Department to Fire Service Department to EPA to Ministerial levels. We’ve all slept on the job.”

“The two cannot go together and institutions that have the responsibility to ensure that the right things are done are not doing it. If you want to operate a filling station, fine. But if you want to operate a restaurant in addition, then we will take our permit or revoke it to allow you operate the restaurant. The two can’t go together”, he said.

Over 200 lives were lost while properties running into millions of cedis got destroyed by the torrential rains that fell for over three hours on June 3.

Some people had gathered in front of a Pharmacy Shop at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle near the Goil Filling Station adjacent to the GBC Towers to seek for refuge from the heavy downpour but unfortunately lost their lives following a fire outbreak at the Goil filling station.

Many have argued that governments have failed to put in the necessary structures to curb flooding in the country.

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daniel russell