The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has alleged that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority is putting the lives of thousands of innocent Ghanaians at stake, by storing dangerous chemicals within the Takoradi habour.
According to him, the lives of residents living around the port city are in danger because the facility is storing huge consignments of ammonium nitrate, a substance he believes is highly poisonous, in its warehouse.
“We find out that this ammonium nitrates which are being stored in Takoradi will incur deadly consequences in the future, “ he stated.
In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Opoku Prempeh lambasted managers of Ghana’s national security agencies, accusing them of incompetence.
“You are endangering lives of military personnel,.. and I am wondering where the authorities are…We can’t take these issues for granted.”
“My biggest fear is that this thing can cause havoc. Explosions have killed hundreds and destroyed communities around the world. If it gets into a terrorist hand, it is worse,” he added.
Mr. Opoku Prempeh has therefore asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take immediate measures to rectify the problem.
He wondered whether there is a regime covering the storage of ammonium nitrate at the port, saying “I don’t think there is a regime covering this because I want to know the regime and how it has been abused so much to the threat of Ghanaians.”
He stated: “I have discussed it with the Speaker, and I have placed an urgent request for the Ministry of Environment to come and tell us the whole circumstance surrounding the importation, transport, storage and disposal of ammonium nitrate in this country and in particular reference to what has happened in this country.”
According to him, the Narcotic Control Board and Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA) should also be brought to book for allowing the importation of dangerous and unlawful substances.
<<Print>>