EPA CLOSES FILLING STATION, GAS STATION AFTER FLOOD

 The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has undertaken a demolition exercise at Anhwiam, a day after the worst flooding in recent times hit the metropolis.

 Even though the Regional NADMO office has put the number of fatality at one, other sources including eye witnesses say the death toll in the floods is more than one. Anhwiam and the Anloga Junction was one of the hardest hit suburbs by the floods. 

 A timely intervention by a combined team of KMA, Fire Service, Police and NADMO officials was enough to save Ghana what could likely have been another major twin disaster of floods and fire on Thursday, as the Total fuel service station and an adjoining Next Bon Gas refilling station were heavily flooded.

 According to the Chief Executive of the KMA, Osei Assibey Antwi, there was a leakage from the gas station while the Fire Service had to spray their carbonated water to subdue any oil spillage from the fuel service station before the two flammable materials could spark into fire. 

The flooding has been attributed to a blockade in the way of runoff water by squatters while the main Aboabo storm drain also spilled over into the main Asafo-KNUST highway. 

The Fire service personnel rescued nearly 200 trapped slum dwellers at Ahwiam to safety. 

The demolition exercise was therefore, to clear the waterway of any impediment to allow for the free flow of rain water runoff as the rains intensify. 

Many of the slum dwellers, including women and babies, were left stranded with their personal belongings while others were seen carting household items in tricycles popularly known as Aboboyaa to safety. 

Some of the evictees, who spoke to Ashanti Today, said they had been living in the area with their families for more than two years and that they did not know the place was flood-prone. 

While some of them pleaded with the city authorities for more time to relocate, others read political motives into the action. 

In an interview, the KMA Chief Executive, Osei Assibey Antwi, said the squatters were served notices of ejection about a year ago. 

According to him, it is only by divine intervention that no life was lost to the floods  ostensibly due to bad human attitude to the environment.

 Mr. Assibey Antwi warned therefore, that 'the KMA will not allow the interest of a few residents to cause disaster for the greater majority of the people' and that plans are in place to ensure that the evictees do not return to the place. 

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has closed down temporarily, the Total Fuel Service Station and the adjoining Next Bon Gas Refilling Station at Anloga Junction following the suspected imminent danger the two pose to life and property in that prime area of the Kumasi metropolis. 

The closure followed Thursday’s heavy flooding of the area during which there were suspected leakages from the two stations but had to be subdued by the Fire Service to avert any catastrophe.