Blame State Agencies for Gas Explosions – AFAG
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), believes state agencies should be blamed for the Gas explosions which are gradually becoming a regular phenomenon in the country in recent times.
According to the group, from 2014 to date, there have been a total of eight (8) major gas explosions which has resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of properties worth millions of Ghana Cedis and the disfiguring of individuals who are perhaps minding their own business or escaping from an uncontrollable raging flames.
”AFAG holds the view that the Regulatory Authorities, particularly the Energy Commission, National Petroleum Authority and Environmental agency must be take a lion’s share of the blame for the blasts that are slaughtering and mutilating Ghanaians,” it said.
The group believes that failure of these institutions in ensuring the implementation and enforcement of safety measures by owners and operators of gas stations is a major cause of these blasts.
”These agencies seem to equate “talk” to action. They come to life when disaster strikes and go to sleep once these disasters leaves the newspaper headlines,” the statement added.
A press statement signed by the leadership of the group stated that the country is wasting scarce state resources on many agencies without a commensurate benefit to the state.
”AFAG believes that some agencies have consciously chosen to serve the special interest of individuals instead of ordinary Ghanaian citizens,” it added.
The group is calling on the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Environment to, as a matter of urgency investigate individuals within the NPA and the EPA who have granted permits to businesses to build gas and fuel stations without due diligence and procedure.
”These technocrats and civil servants are the real enemies of this nation and must be smoked out and punished accordingly,” the statement said.
A recent gas explosion at the Atomic Junction in Accra left 7 people dead and 132 injured.
Source: otecfmghana.com
