Director worried about naked fires around fuel stations

The Eastern Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Emmanuel Addo-Okyireh, has expressed concern about the activities of roasted meat (khebab} and grilled tilapia traders around fuel stations.

He noted that activities that involved the use of naked fire, usage of gas cookers and operation of pubs, where clients smoked cigarettes within the premises of the filling stations, could spark fire.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua, he called for strict compliance with regulations for the operations of fuel stations in the country.

Mr Addo-Okyireh was of the view that the operations of fuel stations were not a problem, once all the statutory regulations for the operation of such ventures were complied with, rather human activities involving the use of naked fire posed a major risk to the public, explaining that even in the event of leakage, if no fire or combustible material was around, the situation could be saved to prevent any disaster.

He said since the location of a filling station in itself increased economic activities, it was imperative to check operations and activities that involved naked fires for the safety of the entire populace.

Most of the Fuel stations in Koforidua and its environs operate pubs and eateries within their premises, while people have also encroached on the entrances of the filling stations frying yams and roasting meat popularly called (khebab) for sale.

An owner of one of the fuel stations who spoke to GNA said, they were concerned with the operations around their premises, and therefore would welcome any control measures from the district assemblies.