Ashaiman New Town residents oppose citing of fuel station
Tension is mounting in Ashaiman New Town between some residents in the township and a businessman over the siting of a proposed fuel service station.
According to some members of the community, the project which is located opposite a Church of Pentecost Mission House and a Seventh Day Adventist Church was also closer to a bakery and an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) transformer and poses a threat to public safety.
This has culminated in a decision by the regulator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to put the project on hold until an amicable solution was found.
Speaking to The Spectator on Wednesday, the residents expressed varied opinions on why the project must not be sited in the area as it poses significant threat to life and property.
Ms Leticia Gbeve, who spoke on their behalf said the residents were not consulted to know whether they were in agreement or not before permit was issued to the owner of the property.
She said the facility was too close to their residences and that was their major worry because they fear in the event of an accident, the consequences would be disastrous.
Ms Gbeve said the residents were not against any developmental project in the area but would prefer something that would not threaten lives and properties, adding that “we want for instance a mall, hotel, hospital or apartments.”
She said, it was important that the relevant institutions, especially the EPA made time to address their concerns thoroughly for an amicable resolution that would guarantee their safety and protect the environment.
Responding, the businessman, Mr David Azupio disclosed that the relevant institutions had inspected the landing and carried out various assessment on his invitation before permit was granted for the project to be constructed.
He said the institutions were still closely monitoring all activities at the project site to ensure he was complying with the directives.
According to him, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the EPA, the Ashaiman Traditional Council (ATC), and others with oversight responsibility over the construction of such a facility had done their part so far to ensure compliance with standards.
Mr Azupio assured that he would ensure that all safety standards were adhered to, in order to safeguard the security of the residents and his staff.
“We have been advised to consider safety measures to mitigate any kind of unforeseen issues. They instructed us to among other things raise the walls of the project higher as well as go every length to ensure that the community continued to be a safe place to live,” he said.
Meanwhile, a stakeholder meeting has been held by the EPA following a petition received from the residents to the Agency.
It was to provide the owner of the fuel service station and the citizens an opportunity to engage and also for the former to present the details of the project, its environmental impact and safety measures to be implemented to the community and also for a discussion on the facility under construction.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
