National Security Takes Over Dumping Of Toxic Waste Case
National Security and the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology have taken over investigations into the alleged dumping of toxic oil base mud (OBM) in the country by a Nigerian vessel without recourse to laid down procedures.
The Military High Command has also indicated that it is standing by for the outcome of the investigations and/or a directive from National Security on the next line of action to take.
A source at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told the Daily Graphic that the EPA and other relevant institutions were assisting National Security to get to the bottom of the matter.
It said the EPA had been able to identify the source of the waste in Nigeria, the owners of the vessel and their collaborators in Ghana.
According to the source, samples of the waste had been taken for laboratory analysis, noting, however, that the volume of the liquid waste discharged into the drain could not be measured.
The source said the Ghanaian company whose trucks and staff helped convey the waste materials for dumping had been identified.
It said the driver and the crew members claimed they had been given GH¢80 by officials of Davemers Service, the company contracted by the shipping agent, Panalpina, to clean the tank of the vessel.
The Nigerian vessel, Spirit River, and its sister supply vessel are currently being held at the Home Port of the Western Naval Command as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology has said it is investigating the alleged dumping of toxic cargo at Essipon in the Sekondi/Takoradi municipality and will take “appropriate steps to deal with the problem”.
It further stated that the perpetrators of the act would be made to face the full rigours of the law when they were identified.
A statement signed by the sector Minister, Ms Sherry Ayittey, said measures being contemplated included the evacuation of the oil base mud and loading it into the ship, decontaminating the Essipon area affected by the discharge of the liquid slops and the payment of a fine for any damage to the ecosystem.
It stressed that none of the those measures might be mutually exclusive.
It gave the assurance that the Western Regional Office of the EPA was on the ground and working with officials of the Ghana Navy and the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to enforce relevant laws in the country, including the EPA Act.