The Adentan Municipal Assembly has ordered the closure of a rubber manufacturing factory at Frafraha in Accra following a Starr News investigations.
Residents of the area have accused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of compromising their health following their failure to relocate the company despite the unbearable fumes which emanate from the rubber firm.
Starr News’ Daniel Nii Lartey who visited the area Monday reported that it is hard to breath in the vicinity due to the stench of the fumes.
Some of the residents told Starr News they are unable to sleep due to the operations of the rubber factory.
According to the residents, they have been advised by doctors that the operations of the factory can lead to them suffering lung diseases in the future.
An asthmatic resident told Starr News that he has been unable to stay in his house for over 10 days due to the stench from the factory.
Meanwhile, the EPA’s director for standards compliance and enforcement, Lambert Faabeluon, told Nii Lartey that the issue has just been brought to his attention adding that his unit will meet and take a decision on it.
“It was the assembly that gave the permit to the company to build the factory…they didn’t have an approval by the EPA but [they] were in the process of getting the approval when the case was reported. The process was being handled by the Amasaman office,” Mr. Faabuelson said.
Mr. Faabuelson who appeared to be defending the operations of the factory said there is nothing wrong in having a factory in a residential area.
However, the residents can now heave a sigh of relief following the order by the Municipal Assembly.
