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Committee set to investigate pollution by factory at Akweteyman

By Wendy Amarteifio
Akweteyman
Committee set to investigate pollution by factory at Akweteyman
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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Okaikwei North Municipality, Boi Laryea has set up a committee to investigate reports of air pollution against toffee manufacturing company, Royal Sweets Limited at Akweteyman in Accra .

According to reports the plight of residents living close to the factory who say the fumes from the factory is not only polluting the environment but also affecting their health negatively.

Residents of Akweteyman have appealed for a relocation or regularized operations of the company following what they say is the negative impact on their health and businesses.

But speaking in an interview on the Citi news on Wednesday, Mr Laryea said the company cannot be closed down as such a move will have economic implications on workers at the factory.

He said the committee will present its report in two weeks.

“I’m putting together a committee. Until the committee comes out with its findings, I wouldn’t know what to do now. I’m not a technical man,” he said.

The MCE said the report would help his outfit take a decision on the matter

READ ALSO:“We’re inhaling death from Toffee factory fumes” – Akweteyman residents

“The fact of the matter is that people can make allegations…but we are talking about jobs which are at stake. So if for anything at all, we should find a way of regulating this thing in such a way that the area will be clean, the factory will be there, and people that are employed there will also continue to work so they can take care of their families. I don’t think that we have to halt the operations of the company because when I went there I didn’t see any pollution. I didn’t see any excessive smoke myself. Until I see it with my naked eyes I wouldn’t say that the company should be closed down,” he added.

The residents said that their lives are at risk because of the constant emission of industrial waste into the atmosphere by the candy producing company.

The residents must be closed or relocated before an outbreak of an epidemic.

“We cannot wait till there is an epidemic breaking out in this neighbourhood… we are taking action now,” an angry resident said.

They have vowed to use every means available to force the relocation or closure of the company.

Credit:citinews

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