A civil society group known as Abibiman says it is worried about the lack of capacity in oil spillage response and the failure to ensure compliance and enforcement of quality standards to prevent avoidable accidents.
These failings, once again, has culminated into a huge environmental destruction of coastal and inland biodiversity on which rural community livelihoods depend on.
In a statement issued on behalf of the group, Mr. Kenneth Nana Amoateng said “we urge the Ministry of Transport, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development through its regulatory agencies to recognize the urgent need for a new independent mechanism that would conform to international best practice to prevent, identify, and respond to such oil spills in Ghana and clean up contaminated sites for the benefit of local communities and people living in the affected areas.”
This statement also asked government to set up an independent committee to conduct an immediate investigation and environmental assessment of the impact of the oil spillage at Tema port and its environs on May 26 after a vessel carrying 1,200 metric tons of light crude oil split into two.
They want the spillage to be monitored to ensure that the environment and livelihoods of the fishermen and other local dependents within the catchment area are adequately compensated and protected in line with articles 10 and 11 of Abidjan Convention which requires parties to take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control coastal oil spillage.
By Adu Koranteng
