Gov’t declares war on fuel stations without permit

The government has served notice it is going to crack the whip on fuel stations in Ghana operating without permit.

According to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Mahama Ayariga, a special taskforce will from next week crackdown on filling stations to make sure they are sited at the right places.

He said the special taskforce has been given the mandate to comb through the country to inspect the operating permit of all fuel stations and gas stations.

Ayariga appealed to Ghanaians to back the exercise since it is part of measures being instituted by the government to save lives and properties in the event of any disaster.

At least 200 lives were consumed in the GOIL filling station explosion and flood last Wednesday following a heavy downpour in Ghana’s capital Accra. According to the Ghana National Fire Service, loose valves led to the spillage of fuel which caught fire during the flood.

Ayariga said heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Town and Country Planning Authority among other stakeholders have been summoned for a meeting on Monday to reconsider how to make policies work, especially in the capital.