Grenotek Engineering Services

Gas and Petrol explosions in the country have been caused by lack of safe handling and safety precautions by regulators,fire station managers and individual users of the petrol and gas stations. Petrol gives off highly flammable vapour even at very low temperatures. Because of the flammability of petrol vapours, service stations carry a risk of fire or explosion not common to other types of retail outlets. Ignition of petrol vapours can happen if vapour comes into contact with a heat source capable of igniting it. An ignition spark might come from an electrical switch, a cigarette or food vendors using naked fire for heating.

In order to prevent the risk of ignition, the service station must be zoned and protected from activities as such on its boundaries and within on the basis of the probability of an explosive vapour mixture forming

Most of these explosions have been known to occur during the delivery and supply form tankers to the fuel stations. Are there local regulations controlling supply and delivery of fuel to these stations. My observations are that these deliveries are not properly monitored by Safety technicians but the fuel station workers and tanker drivers.

Another aspect of neglect is the environmental concern during delivery. If released into the environment, petrol and diesel pollute the soil and water supplies. Whenever petrol escapes from an underground storage tank or pipelines, it can travel significant distances. Petrol vapours can find their way into basements of buildings and public drains with serious consequences should the vapours come into contact with an ignition source. The level of risk associated with fuel leakage means early detection of leaks is essential. Immediate corrective action must be taken when leaks are detected. Therefore there is need for consistent and accurate monitoring of fuel delivered, stored and dispensed at any service station in order to detect leaks from each underground tank and connected pipeline.

A major cause of these explosions is neglect of basic safety rules such as

• Turn off your vehicle engine. Put your vehicle in park and/or set the emergency brake. Disable or turn off any auxiliary sources of ignition such as a camper or trailer heater, cooking units, or pilot lights.
• Do not smoke, light matches or lighters while refueling at the pump or when using gasoline anywhere else.
• Use only the refueling latch provided on the gasoline dispenser nozzle. Never jam the refueling latch on the nozzle open.
• Do not re-enter your vehicle during refueling. If you cannot avoid re-entering your vehicle, discharge any static build-up BEFORE reaching for the nozzle by touching something metal with a bare hand — such as the vehicle door — away from the nozzle.)
• In the unlikely event a static-caused fire occurs when refueling, leave the nozzle in the fill pipe and back away from the vehicle. Notify the station attendant immediately.

Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, has called for the intensification of public education in waste segregation to help protect the environment.

He said continuous awareness creation of proper waste segregation, especially among children, is a positive way to ensure sustainable adherence to environmental sanitation.

Mr Sowah said this during a presentation of 268 waste bins to basic schools in the Osu Klottey Korle District.

The effort was aimed at pushing an agenda for proper sanitation among school children by practicing waste segregation.

He said the effort was in collaboration with Jekora Ventures Limited, a waste service provider in the Klottey Korle District, to help reduce the quantum of wastes that go to the landfills and also make waste a resource.

Mr Sowah said the environmental protection vision required a change in action plans, city cleansing approach, enforcement mechanisms and attitudinal mindset change.

He said the city of Accra must look clean and attractive at all times to give residents and visitors a sense of pride, adding that “beautiful cities attract talents, investments and economic activities and increased the cities’ unique contributions to national development.”

“Some of the pressing challenges faced by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in waste management are inadequate final disposal options, illegal dumpsites and most crucially the attitude of the people which needs change,” he said.

The MCE expressed regret that out of daily generation of 2,385 tonnes of waste in the metropolis only 1,665 tonnes was collected through door-to-door and communal systems.

He said children are the future leaders and any major social behaviour modifications should start with them as they are the requisite ambassadors of the effort.

He called on the teachers to shape the behaviours of the future generation who have the major role to play in the effort at making the metropolis clean.

Mr Immanuel Nortey-Tokoli, the Managing Director of Jekora Ventures, said the company would continue to do its best to ensure a clean environment and reminded the children on the need to properly dispose of their waste.

Miss Cindy Badoe, the Deputy Director of Bailty Environment of the Environmental Protection Agency, said plans are far advanced for more collaboration with the AMA.

Miss Georgina Rabbles, the Circuit Supervisor of the Osu Doku Ghana Education Service, who received the items, promised that they would abide by the rules surrounding the process of segregation

By Beatrice Asamani-Savage, GNA

Kyebi (E/R), June 5, GNA – This year’s World Environment Day has been observed with a call on all stakeholders to collectively protect the lands, forest and water bodies from further destruction.

The Minister of Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong- Boateng , who delivered the keynote address at a durbar in Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality in the Eastern Region, said the fight against negative environmental practices required collaboration of all Ghanaians towards an integrated approach to natural resource management.

He said it was time for the nation to act collectively to curb the environmental degradation and water pollution so that posterity would not blame the current generation for negligence.

He said humans would not survive without the environment and, therefore, encouraged the citizenry to treasure nature by protecting and preserving it.

The World Environment Day is marked June 5 every year across the globe by member countries of the United Nations, to create awareness on various environmental issues ranging from marine pollution, climate change, to sustainable consumption, protection of wildlife and the management of hazardous waste, among other environmental challenges that are threatening human existence.

The global theme for this year’s celebration is: “Connecting People to Nature in the City and on the Land, From the Poles to the Equator.”

Ghana adopted as its national theme:” Connecting People to Nature from Cape Three Point to Bawku,” with the slogan “Connect to Nature.”

Prof Frimpong-Boateng noted that Kyebi was the home of political heavyweights in the country and mighty personalities like Dr J.B Danquah, Ofori Atta and the current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and, therefore, urged the inhabitants not to allow migrants to destroy the Atewa Forest Reserve, which abound in biodiversity with rear species like primates, plants, butterflies, flora and fauna.

In addition, the forest reserve host major rivers like Birim, Densu, Ayensu and others that served as sources of water for treatment to more than five million people in the area.

The Minister charged the people to ensure that the water bodies had been restored to their original state.

“I want to see Birim, Densu and Ayensu like how they use to be clean and pure in the 1970s where you could see the bottom of the river with rocks while mud fish swim in them, “he said.

He called for the restoration of the degraded lands and forest through massive afforestation programme.

“The time has come for us to appreciate nature. As a country, we have always demonstrated strong and constant connection with nature in our socio-cultural activities.

“But through our activities, we have exhibited gross disrespect for nature, “he noted.

The Minister said the absence of these essential ingredients of life such as water, forest, mountain, flora and fauna, mankind ceased to exist as humans, adding: “When the last plant dies, the last man will die.”

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the natural resources had high potential for ecotourism promotion, which would create employment and generate revenue for the nation.

Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour, the Regional Minister, called for a collective sense of responsibility and efforts to redeem the degraded natural resources and protect the undestroyed ones for sustainable development.

He expressed appreciation to the planning committee for selecting Kyebi for the national celebration and assured that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would work and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in reversing the negative trend and restore sanity in the Region.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panin, Okyehene, who chaired the function, had dedicated many years of his life advocating the preservation of the environment.

The event attracted people from all walks of life including traditional rulers, assembly members, representatives of civil society organisations interested in environmental sustainability and youth groups.

As part of efforts to preserve the environment, the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, has developed a five-year multi plan to deal with illegal mining.

The project dubbed: “Atewa Till Eternity Video,” campaign spearheaded by Rocha Ghana an NGO in environment protection and supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra, featured 10 artistes.

The musicians performed at the function to thrill and educate the gathering and also presented copies of the CDs to the Okyenhene, who commended them for a job well done.

The ambassadors include Osei Tufour (OBOUR), President of Musicians Union of Ghana, Sherifa Gunu, Mzvee, Kojo Rana, X,Heleen and Kuami Eugene.

GNA

Beatrice Asamani Savage, GNA,

Kyebi (E/R), June 6, GNA – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing procedures and structures to support Government’s priority initiatives, such as the Planting for Food and Jobs; and the One District One Factory, to embrace sustainable environmental practices.

Mr John A. Pwamang, the Acting Executive Director of the Agency, who announced this at a durbar to mark the World Environment Day, explained: “Experience has shown that such interventions could cause adverse impacts on the environment if not well planned and implemented.

“The Agency is, therefore, developing simple tools under the Environmental Impact Assessment Process to be used to conduct rapid assessments of projects under these initiatives to ensure that they are permitted promptly and they are implemented in environmentally sustainable manner.”

Under the national theme: “ Connecting People to Nature from Cape Three Points to Bawku”, the durbar was held to bring the point home at Kyebi, in the Eastern Region, which is host to the Atewa Forest Reserve.

Atewa, which is ranked first as Ghana’s upland evergreen forest, and the third in the West African Sub-region, boasts of many unique and rare species of biodiversity, which could be protected for also ecotourism forex earnings.

Important water bodies such as the Birim, Ayensu and Densu, which benefits more than five million people, also derive their sources from this national treasure.

Atewa is, however, under the threat of degradation and landslides by the activities of illegal miners because of its large deposits of gold and bauxite. Illegal logging by chain saw operators, uncontrolled hunting and encroachment for farmlands also threaten its sanctity.

To resolve some of the environmental problems, Mr Pwamang said the EPA was going through a procurement process to automate all the permitting processes to hasten them and ensure transparency.

Additionally, the EPA Boss said his outfit had upped the monitoring of small scale mining projects throughout the country to ensure that operators respected the terms of their permits.

“The issuance of environmental permits for some categories of projects has already been decentralised to the regional level,” he stated.

To create alternative jobs for the youth, without compromising the environment, he said the EPA was working on the operationalisation of the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, 2016 – Act 917.

The beneficiaries, Mr Pwamang explained, would be collecting waste from electrical and electronic equipment to feed modern state-of the art recycling facilities.

On dealing with the menace of plastic waste, he said the EPA was collaborating with the Ghana Standards Authority and the other stakeholders towards the use of biodegradable plastics.

The regulatory body is also seeking partnerships with development agencies to promote renewable energy, such as solar and biogas and to reclaim degraded land and water bodies.

The rate of Ghana’s deforestation stands at about 22, 00 hectares annually, Mr Pwamang pointed out, saying, “Very little closed forest remains outside the forest reserves. It is estimated that less than one per cent forest cover is found outside the forest reserves.”

To salvage the dire situation, 16 per cent of Ghana’s land area has been set aside to conserve the representative samples of natural ecosystems in the form of forest reserves, national parks and wildlife reserves.

Mr Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee responsible for the Environment, said if Ghanaians did not stop the wanton destruction of their forest resources, they would send into extinction those medicinal plants that could cure the cancers and other diseases that would eventually emerge from their negative actions.

“As a pharmacist, I can attest that at least one out of every 10 medicines prescribed in the hospital is plant-based; while our herbal medicines and especially the bitters that we relish as men, are from the forests. We need to wise up and save ourselves”.

Madam Christine Evans-Klocke, the United Nations Coordinator in Ghana, urged the local and national governments to merge their socioeconomic and environmental actions to towards the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals that ensure a safe and healthy environment.

These include ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030; ensuring affordable and clean energy; and promoting sustainable cities and communities.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, who chaired the ceremony, stated that the environment had no boundaries in terms of its impacts on the health of human beings, animals and plants that habit.

Therefore, everybody must be involved in the actions to ensure a clean and healthy one, he advised.

For more than 20 years, we cannot find the cure for HIV/AIDS, how do we know if we have not sent into extinction those plants that could have cured HIV/AIDS and Ebola?”

Are fossil fuels the new slavery, the new Jim Crow?

If you believe the dire predictions of world leaders and many top scientists, it’s hard not to conclude that the burning coal, oil and gas might even be worse. It is not just immoral; it poses an existential threat to life as we know it.

While you may be angry that President Donald Trump pulled us out of the Paris climate accord, you are probably horrified that the agreement is a symbolic gesture that will only slow the rise in greenhouse gas emissions. The inconvenient truth is that the best we could do collectively is not nearly enough to thwart what many see as a looming catastrophe.

What are people who know and care to do?

Our history offers some guidance. Slavery and Jim Crow were not just brutal practices – they were all-encompassing systems that implicated every non-black citizen. Even if one recognized them as evil, it was almost impossible to avoid complicity. That was the price society exacted of all born into it.

The late journalist and scholar Roger Wilkins addressed this moral prison in his insightful book, “Jefferson’s Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism.” As an African-American, he was angry at those who declared that all men are created equal while enslaving his own ancestors.

Without forgiving them, Wilkins recognized that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would have had to turn their backs on all they knew and given up all they had to live up to those ideals. They “might have freed all their slaves in their lifetimes and thereby lost enough status, wealth, and leisure to be rendered anonymous,” he wrote. “But financially – and probably psychically as well – they were incapable of such sacrifices. … they had been shaped, like all of us, by inherited culture.”

A movement has been building in recent years to no longer honor those who participated in slavery and Jim Crow by razing their statues and erasing their names from boulevards and buildings. I have repeatedly called for the removal of the Confederate monument that towers before our state legislature in Raleigh.

But that effort points the finger outward; it doesn’t suggest how we might use that moral argument to examine our own lives in areas outside of race.

Fossil fuels shape our world just as surely as Jim Crow and other forms of systemic racism once defined America. Almost all we do, our ease and comfort, depends on them. They are both the immovable object and the irresistible force.

And yet, many believe they are leading toward unimaginable horrors. Wilkins anticipated this point when he wrote: “Privilege is addictive. The most natural thing in the world is for each human being to view the privilege he enjoys as, well, the most natural thing in the world.”

Our privilege is not realized through slavery or immoral laws that deny the humanity of others but through our cars, planes, air conditioners and factories mostly powered by fossil fuels.

It is clear that, at least in the short-term, our leaders are not going to take the action climate activists deem necessary. As a result, people who care deeply about this issue will be forced to participate in a form of slow-motion suicide.

If we can look at the past and ask why our ancestors didn’t do more to confront an acknowledged evil, how might we interrogate our own behavior?

Is it enough just to support the right policies? Are people living up to their values when they support bike lanes, but drive everywhere? When they rail against climate deniers but then fly hither and yon? When they build houses with bonus rooms and own summer homes?

Of course, the actions of a single individual will not make a bit of difference. Jefferson could have told himself the same thing if he ever thought about freeing his slaves.

But the only thing any of us can truly control is ourselves; the most valuable thing we have is our conscience.

That great American novel, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” featured a decent protagonist born into a corrupt society. Huck remains a powerful example not because of what he said, but what he did to help Jim. That is the one true measure of every person

Investment manager New Sparta Asset Management (NSAM) has set up New Sparta Energy to develop renewable energy projects in Africa.

William Barry has been hired as managing director to lead the new unit and grow a team of Africa specialists.

Barry has over 20 years’ experience as an emerging market-focused financial and business development professional and was previously regional manager, East Africa at eleQtra, a private infrastructure project developer with a focus on Africa.

NSAM chief executive Jerome Booth said: “At NSAM we aim to unlock value in the emerging markets through sector specialism in private markets.

“By bringing together a team of seasoned Africa power experts, we will be able to get involved at a very early, development stage in the investment cycle of projects, thereby giving investors access to superior returns.”

Barry said: “Investors are increasingly eager to invest in the renewable and conventional energy sectors in Africa but have struggled to access suitable opportunities.

“We are excited about working with the strong and growing team at NSE and NSAM to meet such a clear investor demand.”