Gas filling stations in urban areas in Ghana. Effects and consequences

In the quest to sustain and preserve the environment through the reduction of carbon emissions emanating from charcoal and woodfuel, the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was highly encouraged nationwide to substitute the former (Baffour et al., 2014). This national LPG promotion exercise was initiated in 1990 which ascended the usage rate of this energy source in the country, mostly urban centres (Quaye-Fori, 2002). With the programme’s numerous strategies like LPG promotion unit set up within the ministry, promotional levy used for creating required awareness and demand for the increased use of LPG, door to door LPG delivery – service providers charge additional fee for delivery gas to individual residences, cylinders given out to households at amortized price and part of cost was recouped when gas was purchased, and commercial cooked food sellers given assistance, the annual consumption rate rose to 24% in 2009 (Yirenkyi, 2010). This has eventually caused a growing demand of LPG, consequently leading to a proliferation of gas filling stations in urban areas of Ghana. Tragically, this upsurge which is seemingly imperative to national development considering its economic and environmental benefits, has caused the country great havoc, leading to loss of lives and multi-million properties over the years (Norman et al., 2015). These catastrophic incidences are widely attributed to non-compliance with the regulations governing this operation.

In spite of the numerous established laws and environmental/land use regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), and National Petroleum Authority, several gas filling stations operating in the country do not comply with the minimum environmental safety requirements by these regulations. Amidst these regulations are, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994, Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, 2002, National Petroleum Act, 2005, and Spatial and Land use Act, 2016. Evidently, non-compliance to these regulations results from improper coordination and poor enforcement (Anim-Mensah, 2017).

Although there have been some positive effects of the existence of gas filling stations in urban areas, but they have also caused us detrimental effects and have a high potential of causing disastrous incidences if the current situation is left unperturbed. Indisputably, proximity of these gas filling stations to residential and commercial areas in urban areas speeds up the supply and demand process which hastens economic activities. However, the negative effects of these gas filling stations cannot be overlooked. In a study conducted by Karakitsios et al. (2007), it was revealed that people in the vicinity of gas stations have increased risk of cancer from 3 to 21%. This is because the concentration of these gases are appreciably higher than in filling stations than what is found in location of high vehicular flux (Cezar, 2010) . Evidently, this same situation has suffered Ghana with great loss of her human resources and properties. Ghana, specifically urban areas have experienced number of fire disasters over the years usually resulting from a mishap from these filling stations.

Ghana has been subjected to eight such incidents of explosions for the past four years. As reported by Bokpe (2014), 28 people lost their lives as a result of gas tanker explosions at Manbah gas in Accra. This put the residents around in deep fear calling for the responsible authorities to take necessary measures to prevent future disasters. Norman et. al. (2015) report that there have been 11 accidents involving Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tankers and LPG fuelling stations from 2007-2014. These disasters according to Norman et. al. (2015) led to the demise of 39 whilst 186 people sustained various degrees of injury. Eight out of the Eleven (11) accidents between 2007 to 2014 involved industrial settings- gas stations, fuel stations and a fuel dump. The remaining resulted from gas tanker crashes (Bokpe, 2014). However, there is a dire need for the responsible state institutions to take a second look at the zoning areas for gas filling stations because the nation cannot afford to lose her great assets through controllable disasters like this. Most of these filling stations are sited in residential areas. For instance, just along circle-Achimota road alone, three LPG stations are established within communities and near fitting shops, houses and chop bars (Anim-Mensah, 2017), to add to this, Nedrap Gas is sandwiched between a chain of houses and carpentry shops in Accra. More so, a number of gas filling stations (Universal Oil, Goil and Trinity) are all sited in the middles of shopping centres and close to residences along the Abeka-Kwashieman road (Anim-Mensah, 2017).

According to Norman et al. (2017), in June 3, 2015, Ghana experienced one of its heaviest tragic incidents, as an explosion from a Goil filling station coupled with a flood hit the country at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra. This left indelible trauma in the hearts of people, as hundreds of lives were lost and properties worth millions of Ghana Cedis were totally destroyed. Again in December 2015, Accra suffered an explosion from gas explosion at La, a suburb in Accra (Bokpe, 2017).

Recently in October 2017, a fire disaster resulting from gas explosion at a gas filling station once again hit the country. This gain happened in Accra at a place called atomic junction. This disastrous incident led to the loss of seven lives whilst 132 people sustained various degrees of injury (GNA, 2017). Anytime such tragic incident happens, a life is lost and properties are destroyed. Yet Ghana still grope in the dark on the best way forward to end the danger posed to innocent citizens, as a result of the incompatible siting of gas filling stations at residential areas.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

Inarguably, the numerous fire disasters that have hit Ghana through explosions from gas filling stations have caused the nation a great loss. These catastrophes affect society and the economy significantly and have become a great concern for civil society as well as the government (UN-Habitat, 2011). In this regard, the government of Ghana has made several attempts to eradicate the issue of gas explosions in filling stations usually leading to loss of lives and annihilation of valuable properties. These interventions are normally through laws and regulations. Unfortunately, most of these interventions are marred by the corrupt attitudes of officials of responsible bodies like the EPA, NPA, MMDAs, leading to poor siting of filling stations (Residential areas and congested commercial areas) and non-frequent check-up of their operations as they have to (Asaaga, 2017).

There are already existing regulatory frameworks like the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994, Environmental Assessment (Amendment) Regulations 2002, National Petroleum Act, 2005, Spatial and Land Use Act 2016 amongst others. These regulations established in the past years have provisions which are seemingly sufficient to address the problem of fire disasters from gas explosions which have caused the nation a great loss. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 mandates the EPA to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment exercise before permit is given to proceed with the construction of a gas filling station. Through this exercise, the potential negative impacts are anticipated and mitigation measures are drawn to avert them to secure the safety of people and the environment. Moreover, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) rules and regulation stipulate that gas and fuel stations should be situated at a minimum of 30.8 meters (100ft) from residential areas; where the site adjoins the side or rear boundary of a residential lot, a solid wall of 10ft in height should be constructed and maintained along lot boundary. According to the LI 1724 Fire precaution Premises Regulation of 2003, the fire service is legally mandated to check the location of such business before its construction. Prospective owners of filling stations ought to bring drawing of the fuel station for determination and checks whether it would not meets the fire standards of the Ghana Fire service in order to prevent future fire outbreaks. There has also been an established guideline which is endorsed by the National Petroleum Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Standards Authority the Town and Country Planning Department as well as the Factories Inspectorate Department which require that filling stations renew their permits every 18 months. This is done to ensure a continuous compliance with the standards of the stated bodies. It is stipulated in the section 13 (1-4) of the environmental Protection Act 1994, Act 490 punitive measures for non-compliance with the regulations of the EPA. These measures are to serve as deterrent to filling stations operators from violating the regulations of the EPA.

Recently in 2017, after the gas explosion at the atomic junction, the government has again shown willingness to arrest this growing canker. The President of the Republic of Ghana on the counsel of the cabinet denounced at the Cabinet meeting of 12th October 2017, the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution (Asaaga, 2017). This model means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested commercial and population centers and will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas to vehicles. This whole exercise is set to be completed within one year.

In furtherance, there have also been some measures from the government to be taken in the interim, purposely to ensure the safety of the citizens. These as directed by the President of the Republic of Ghana are:

- Immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
- Review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
- Institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
- Review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
- Deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
- The immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
- The recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
- Expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law; and
- Immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

From the above observation, there are seemingly enough government agencies and regulations to mitigate this menace, fire disasters from gas explosions never stop hitting the country. This is widely attributed to the lack of proper coordination and enforcement of the laws by the responsible bodies, thereby causing the recurrence of the problem.

REFERENCES

Anim-Mensah, A. (2017). Indiscriminate Upsurge in Gasoline Filling Stations. Published on Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved from www.Ghanaweb.com on 16/01/2018

Asaaga, F. (2017). Cross-sectoral Approach to address Fire disasters from Gas Filling Stations in Ghana. Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University, UK.

Baffour, A. R., Offe, A. and Annor, D. L. (2014). Assessing the Impacts of Fuel Filling Stations on the Environment in Ghana. Ghana Technology University College, Accra-Ghana.

Bokpe, S. (2017). A review of Fire disasters from Gas Explosions in Accra. Published on Graphiconline.com. Retrieved from www.Graphiconline.com on 16/01/2017

Cezar, V. (2010). Impacts of BTEX (Benzene, Toulene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes) Emissions from Gas Filling Stations to the Atmosphere. International Journal of Environment and Public Health, 89-105.

Karakitsios, Y., Hanz, T.Y. and Uzur, L. (2007). Impact of Filling Stations in Greece. International Journal of Environment and Public Health, 9(7), 22-45.

Norman, D. I., Awiah, M. B., Aikins, K. M. and Binka, N. F. (2015). Review of Catastrophic Fires and Risk Communication, Ghana. Advances in Applied Sociology, 5, 167-177.

Quaye-Fori, A. E. (2002). Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Promotion: The Ghana Experience. Presentation at: UNDP/World bank-Energy and poverty Workshop.

Yirenkyi, G. (2010). Occupational Health and Safety Audit of Fuel Filling Stations in the Agona Nkwanta, Inchaban and Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolis in Ghana. A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

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