EPA again!

Citi Fm, an Accra based radio station reported yesterday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stopped Zain mobile phone Company from erecting a mast at Mangoase, a suburb of Sekondi, since they did not have the permit to do so. The radio station also quoted the EPA as having ordered other mobile telephone companies who had sited their masts in the area to apply for permit.

Few days ago, Metropolitan Television (Metro TV) also reported that the residents of Mangoase have threatened to go on demonstration to protest against the siting of so many masts in the area, whose radiation level could pose as health hazards to them.

The Chronicle congratulates the EPA for its swift intervention in the matter. If the radiation from the mast could affect the health of the people, then something ought to be done before the situation exacerbates. As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. It will be better to stop the haphazard erection of these masts, so that they will be done in a lawful and orderly way that would not pose as a threat to human life. The Chronicle is, however, disappointed that it has taken the EPA such a long time before intervening in the issue. EPA has a regional office in Sekondi, yet they overlooked the siting of the masts. We find this attitude in some of the public officials who always wait for reports before taking decisions as very unfortunate. Indeed, if the radiation from the mast was that deadly, the people of Mangoase would have died long before the EPA's intervention.

It is important to note that the EPA has offices in Kumasi, yet they failed to properly surpervise the construction of a gas station, leading to its explosion and loss of precious lives. The EPA only came out with a lame excuse that the owner of the station did not have a permit from them, after innocent people have lost their lives when the gas cylinder exploded.

We think it is about time people put in positions of responsibility began to act promptly to prevent disasters from happening, instead of waiting for it to occur before taking remedial measures. Any visitor to Sekondi-Takoradi would agree that the masts being complained about are not in obscure areas; therefore it would be wrong alibi for the EPA to say that they could not locate them.

Surely, Ghana as a country needs investments to expand her economy, but that should not be done at the expense of the people's lives. We suggest that the masts should be immediately relocated, if investigation proves that its radiation could be injurious to the health of the people of Mangoase and its environs.