EPA probes poisonous sand sale

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating the sale of hazardous sand residue from the construction of the Adomi Bridge, to individuals at the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region.

There are fears of an imminent health danger in the area over the development.

The Contractors, who worked on the bridge, Bilfinger, left heaps of the hazardous sand at the site, with the expectation that it would be buried to prevent it from human contact.

However, Class News’ Eastern Regional Correspondent, Mark Anthony Dagyenga, who visited the site, reported that all the residual sand had been conveyed to a dumping site. “There is no sand at the construction site,” he said.

According to him, residents rather lured truck drivers, who were conveying trips of the sand to a dumping site, with money, in order to sell the sand to them.

The EPA, however, has called on the company to secure the dumping site to prevent residents from accessing the sand.

Speaking to Class News, EPA Director in the Eastern Region, Felix Addo Okyireh said: “When we heard it, we went round, we did the investigation, and we asked the company to find out those, who have done that and immediately get them out of the dumping site.”

“We are asking the company to provide security at the dumping site so that nobody goes there and takes advantage of it and takes the materials and sell. Because once it’s been sold and people are buying it at that cheaper price, some people will begin to go to the dumping site and then get them out, so we are asking the company to provide security at that place.”

Mr Okyireh further said the EPA has met with the district assembly to also take up the matter.

He advised the community to be careful with the use of the sand because “obviously lead is poisonous, so, if you have a high lead content in whatever substance you have, then, of course, you are talking about death and any other disabilities”.