Some hundreds of workers of MND Metals Co. Ltd and Success Aluminum Co. Ltd all located in the Tema Free Zone Enclave are crying the heavy toxic smoke being released in the areas is killing them while the authorities look on.
The heavy and toxic smoke is being discharged in the area by the United Steel Company and Rider Steel during the operation of their metal recycling and processing machines in the factories.
During the operations of their machines for melting the metals, the factories emit a very thick smoke with the unpleasant smell emanating from mostly the back of the factories and the chimney which most at times block the visibility and choking workers of neighboring companies of MND Metals and Success Aluminum.
The workers of MND Metal and Success Aluminum who are neighbor of United Steel and Rider Steel in the are accusing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of not taken any contract action for the past three years to bring the situation under control leading to the death of one of their colleagues, George Amoah who was alleged to have died of a smoke infection in February last year.
How the smoke from United Steel Company blocking visibility of workers within MND Metals
According to the workers who spoke to Awake News on condition of anonymity said the heavy smoke that is discharged in the area by the United Steel Company and Rider Steel has become a slow poison they are inhaling every day knowing well it will kill them too before they retire.
When asked why they continue working in an environment they deemed a threat to their lives, their reply was simple “we have no option”, “When we stop work now where do we get our daily bread?”.
Some of these workers said they have serious health issues diagnosed by their doctors as having been exposed to harmful smoke and some shared their medical reports with Awake News to confirm their situation.
Speaking to Awake News’ Head of Investigations, Efo Korsi Senyo who is investigating the situation, the Managing Director of MND Metals Co. Ltd. Mr. Mahmud Kuhdi said the situation is serious for such that sometimes they have to pulse their work anytime the smoke starts coming from the United Steel Company.
“When the smoke starts coming very heavy like that, we can even breathe properly because it has a bad smell. That smoke is toxic and very dangerous to the health of my worker. We have to pulse working” – Mr. Mahmud narrates the situation to Awake News’ Efo Korsi Senyo
According to Mr. Kahdi, the situation is not only affecting their health but also their business.
“There was a time we had to close down for months but still we have to pay workers. We have also lost many experienced workers who we spent money on to bring from abroad due to this smoke. Our loss is more than USD800,000. Even when our customers come and experience the smoke, they don’t return again” – He said
“I have sent several complaints about the situation to state authorities but the situation remains the same.”
“How can this people (United Steel Company) be using their company activities to collapse our business and put the lives of many people in danger?” – he quizzed
Minister of Environment’s an unannounced visit to the area:
On June 23, 2020, the Minister of Environment, Science, and Innovation, Prof. Frimpong Boateng paid an unannounced visit to the area.
According to a report filed by the Ghana News Agency, “the Minister expressed disappointment at the level of pollution the company spewed into the environment as dark smoke was seen billowing with metal dust, virtually choking and reducing visibility on the factory premises.
He said his outfit had received several reports from other companies in the enclave on the consistent and reckless manner in which pollutants were emitted into the air by Rider Steel which informed his decision to pay the surprise visit after sending some officials earlier to confirm.
He said it was urgent to get the road map from them as bad smoke was being emitted from their chimney, adding that he also observed that the chamber for the melting of the metals was also faulty.
“The filtration system is not working properly and the dust from the filter is not well collected as there is a leakage in the receptacle”.
He added that “I feel like closing the factory down, but apart from seeing that they are making efforts to change the filters, we are also not in normal times because of the COVID-19, they should sit with the EPA and bring a written roadmap for the correction of all the lapses”.
United Steel Company Ltd by defended by the Ministery of Environment?
The situation at the United Steel Company Ltd as of yesterday, July 16, 2020
In the same GNA report in which the minister expressed disappointment over the pollution situation in the enclave, it appeared to have put the Minister, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng defending of the United Steel Company which is one of the companies accused of being the for pollution.
“For the United Steel, he recounted how he sent his officials there, after some reports adding that he was however impressed with what he saw as there was a tremendous improvement from the reports he received.” – GNA Reports
The impression being created in the above appears to be different from what is on the ground.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com