New Takoradi residents live in fear

Fear has gripped residents of New Takoradi, a popular fishing community in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

This follows a revelation by the Ghana National Fire Service that oil and gas pipelines passing through the community could cause a major catastrophe in the community in case of any explosion.

This revelation came up during a community engagement by some oil and gas companies who are currently laying their pipelines in the community.

Shockingly, the Environmental Protection Agency, which should have spearheaded such forum as law demands, was reportedly not represented.

The highly patronised forum was held at Butuah Park in Lower New Takoradi and was attended by the youth, opinion leaders as well as staff of some oil companies in the area.

Most of the indigenes present expressed anger at what they described as clandestine moves by some leaders of the community to singlehandedly deal with the oil and gas companies.

The residents, who vented their spleen on the leaders for allegedly sidelining them in all their dealings with the oil and gas companies, almost marred the forum.

The youth of the community vowed never to allow any work to progress on the laying of the pipelines in the area until a general consensus was reached.

Meanwhile, Kwame Amponsah, one of the youth leaders in the fishing community, has hinted that works on the laying of the oil pipelines has been halted for the past month.