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96 die in gas accidents, 486 injured between 2007 and 2015
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Ninety-Six people died in 19 accidents from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refilling plants in the country between 2007 and 2015.
Over the period, 486 people also sustained serious injuries .
Investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that the tragic incidents were as the result of the lack of proper training for operators along the supply chain (drivers, managers, supervisors and pump attendants) on the safe handling of LPG.
Mr William Hayford-Acquah, acting Director of Field Operations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), disclosed these while interacting with journalists on the second day of a three-day capacity building training for 136 workers in the LPG sector in the Volta Region, at Ho on Tuesday.
“The LPG plant operators received no formal training on the safe handling of LPG but were tasked with the responsibility of manning the plants,” he said.
The training, organised by the EPA was meant to introduce the participants to the safe handling of petroleum products to make them more efficient in responding to their regulatory requirements and equip them with pollution prevention and control methods and systems, among others.
The participants were taken through emerging issues and best practices in the LPG industry and the compliance with regulations of the sector.
Mr Hayford-Acquah said that the EPA had taken a firm stance to inject professionalism in the industry and make the operators more efficient.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Henry K. Kokofu, Executive Director of EPA, noted that the growth in the gas sector had come with public concerns over the proliferation of gas services outlets in residential areas.
He said that EPA in collaboration with other stakeholder institutions initiated the training and certification programme to avert LPG accidents in future.
He said that the demand for LPG in the country had increased tremendously over the past decades, adding that there were now 3,596 refilling LPG and fuel stations nationwide.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has questioned why Ghana continues to import toothpicks despite having the resources to produce them locally.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Iddrisu, who previously served as Minister for Trade and Industry, said he feels ashamed that the country still depends on imports for such a basic product.
“I have been Minister for Trade and Industry before and I carry the shame. How come that in Ghana we cannot produce toothpicks and we have to import them?” he asked.
According to him, Ghana has enough resources to support local businesses to manufacture products such as toothpicks instead of relying on imports. He said the country should encourage private sector investment in manufacturing to create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign goods.
Mr. Iddrisu alleged that some people who received government support under private sector initiatives failed to use the funds for their intended purpose.
“If you want, Honorable Kojo, because you… I can’t go there. There are people who took money in the name of the private sector and said they were going to farm. That money never went to their farms. You know that,” he told Parliament.
On job creation, the Education Minister said he agreed with the views expressed by a colleague on the need to create more employment opportunities. However, he argued that the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme did not provide the solution to Ghana’s employment challenges.
Mr. Iddrisu made the remarks during parliamentary proceedings while contributing to discussions on job creation and the country’s industrial development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications officer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has dismissed reports linking him to an alleged GH¢55 million case, insisting that no such issue was raised during his detention by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
In a Facebook post after his release from EOCO custody, Mr Aboagye stated that at no point during his detention was he questioned about any GH¢55 million.
“For the records: There was no discussion of any GH¢55 million with me by EOCO. None,” he wrote.
According to him, he was detained for four days, a day after announcing his intention to contest for the position of National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party.
Mr Aboagye alleged that false narratives were circulated about his arrest but expressed confidence that the truth would eventually prevail.
He thanked NPP supporters who demonstrated and called for his release, saying news of the protests reached him while he was in detention and encouraged him.
Mr Aboagye indicated that the support shown by party faithful strengthened his resolve and reaffirmed his commitment to serve the NPP.
He maintained that his detention had not discouraged him from pursuing his political ambition.
“If the intention was to break me, it has failed. If the intention was to scare me, it has failed spectacularly,” he stated.
Mr Aboagye expressed appreciation to his legal team, the leadership of the NPP and all supporters who stood by him throughout his detention.
He reiterated his determination to lead the party’s Communications Directorate, declaring that he remained “ready to win” and committed to what he described as the party’s mission to “command the narrative.”
By: Jacob Aggrey
