The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) has conducted a surprise inspection of fuel stations and LPG refilling plants in the Ashanti Region. 

The exercise dubbed “Mystery Shopping”, led by AOMC CEO Dr. Riverson Oppong, is to ensure compliance with industry standards for safety, customer service, and overall operations. The inspection team, including AOMC Head of Compliance & Operations Tizard Ansah and Compliance Officers Billey Al-Assad and Courage Agblevor, meticulously evaluated various aspects of the facilities.

Beyond the usual checks on fuel pumps and dispensers, the team assessed staff friendliness, knowledge, and professionalism, as well as the cleanliness of customer service areas and tank farms. Safety was a top priority. The team observed staff adherence to safety protocols, including the use of proper gear and the availability of essential safety equipment like fire extinguishers and spill kits.

 Compliance with National Petroleum Authority (NPA) guidelines was strictly monitored. To gain deeper insights into the industry’s challenges, the AOMC team engaged with station managers to understand operational difficulties and areas needing improvement. 

The AOMCs is committed to using the findings to develop training programs, enhance customer service, and improve safety standards across the entire downstream petroleum industry.

“This mystery shopping program is a significant step towards creating a benchmark for the industry,” said AOMC CEO. Dr. Riverson Oppong. 

 “By prioritizing customer experience, compliance, and operational efficiency, we aim to benefit consumers through improved service, a safer environment, and consistent quality standards.” he added. 

The AOMCs believes a well-regulated petroleum industry is vital for economic growth and job creation. By boosting consumer confidence and attracting investments, the association aims to contribute to increased employment opportunities in the sector.

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The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to clamp down on illegal paint producers in the country to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Mr Kofi Kapito, the Chief Executive Officer of the CPA, who disclosed this at a press conference in Accra, said the CPA’s surveillance task force had uncovered a troubling issue regarding paint products.

“The so-called ‘American Paint’ is a notable example, which lacked approval from the GSA despite its popularity on the market,” he said.

Those paints were imported, packaged in unlabeled drums, lacking any indication or origin or manufacturer, contrary to GSA and EPA regulations, he noted.

Mr Kapito said those unlabeled paints were then repackaged and labeled as ‘American Paints,’ which were sold and distributed into the local markets in the country.

“Our investigations confirm that products manufactured in the USA, whether for domestic use or export, should not lack essential labelling, including the manufacturer’s details, batch number, ingredients, expiring date and barcode for traceability.”

The CPA had informed the public that those ‘American paints’ were fraudulent and misleading consumers, adding that: “We have identified a concerning trend of individuals producing paints in backyards and homes.”

He said the production of paints may be hazardous if not handled professionally and in a supervised environment by skilled and professional employees under strict safety conditions as mandated by the EPA and GSA.

“These makeshift operations are often situated in communities, which now pose significant health risks to both the producers and the community members,” Mr Kapito added.

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The President of the Sea Freight Pineapple Exporters of Ghana, Solomon Benjamin has called for government’s immediate intervention to put a stop to the activities of illegal sand winners across the country. 

He complained that the survival and existence of the industry is at stake, with farmers struggling to maintain production amidst the destruction of their farmlands by illegal sand winners and called for the government to intervene to curtail the situation.

Mr. Benjamin, during an interview with the media at Kofi Kwei near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, hinted that farmlands and plantations in the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Central Regions are being razed to the ground, leaving nothing but sand and destruction in their wake. He reiterated that the association has petitioned various ministries and agencies but have proved futile and has appealed to the government to take immediate action to halt this destruction by the illegal sand winners.

The latest victim of this destruction by the activities of the illegal sand winners is Bomarts Farms Ltd, which has seen its 155-acre agro-forestry plantation been destroyed at Kofi Kwei near Nsawam, despite numerous reports to several police stations, the situation remains persistent.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Anthony Botchway, says the company’s 15-year investment, worth millions of Ghana Cedis, is going down the drain due to the activities of the illegal sand winners, threatening the livelihoods of the 1,600 workers of the company and compromising its export capabilities. Mr. Botchway stated that the devastation of farmlands is widespread, with the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Central Regions bearing the brunt of this environmental degradation.

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The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has announced that a major cleanup exercise will commence in the central part of Accra from the first week of July.

Mr. Titus Glover in an interview on GBC’s “Public Concern” show revealed that parts of Accra that will experience the clean up exercises have been divided into six zones. The exercise will kick off in the Odododiodio constituency. The cleanup exercise according to him will also cover the AMA area, including Gamashi proper, Abola, Gbese, and Ngleshie Sempe, spanning two days.

He emphasized the collaboration between the Ministry of Sanitation and local government and the Ga-mantse particularly in the Gamashie area, where he will actively participate in the sanitation drive as a champion. He noted the pivotal roles the Traditional Authorities will be playing in overseeing that the exercise becomes a success and an impactful one

He further called on the various assemblies within the capital to put in place more proactive measures that will help in the curbing of illegal structures being put up on water ways. He also emphasized the need for constant vigilance by the task forces to intervene promptly, preventing unauthorized construction, thus avoiding subsequent eviction issues.

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Ghanaian fashion artist and art activist, Beatrice Bee Arthur, has urged artists and creatives to find innovative ways to upcycle waste, particularly in tackling fast fashion and waste pollution in Ghana.

“We artists are powerful. I believe that art is political more than anything. Art is a weapon. I am trying to encourage and weaponize everybody because we all have the power to make a change in our own corner,” Arthur stated.

Beatrice Arthur emphasized that individual efforts are crucial in addressing waste pollution, especially given the lack of governmental plans to curb the importation of used clothing and plastics in Ghana.

“From what I heard, there is not going to be a solution from the government anytime soon. They are not doing anything to curb the importation of used clothing. They are afraid to deprive people of jobs, so they are not going to ban plastics or used clothing,” she iterated.

Speaking at the Environment Week event at Alliance Française in Accra, dubbed “Curbing Fast Fashion and Plastic Pollution,” Arthur highlighted that 90 percent of her artistic works and installations are made from waste materials.

She also stressed the importance of reusing household items and disposing of waste responsibly.

Additionally, she questioned why traditional chiefs can enforce bans on noise-making and drumming but remain silent on the issue of littering.

Bee Arthur’s call to action aims to inspire a collective effort among artists and the general public to mitigate environmental pollution through creative and sustainable practices.

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In recent years, the government’s deliberate efforts to celebrate Green Ghana Day have yielded significant success. However, Florence Sena Amponsah, Senior Manager of Program Support at Compassion International Ghana has urged corporate Ghana to explore additional avenues for championing climate initiatives.

She advocates for developing comprehensive climate strategies, sponsoring youth-led initiatives, and providing training on the critical importance of climate change

Madam Amponsah highlighted several initiatives by Compassion International Ghana aimed at enhancing ecosystems within the communities they serve. Central to their efforts is the Environmental Stewardship Creation Care (ESCC) strategy. This strategy is designed to promote ecosystems that support the development and thriving of children, youth, and families, aligning with CIGH’s vision.

Compassion International Ghana has also focused on raising awareness among staff about the importance of ecosystems. Recently, five staff members received training on climate change and reporting. Recognizing the critical role of youth in driving climate initiatives, Compassion International Ghana in partner with local church partners organized a three-day workshop  in September 2022 for 40 youth participants, in collaboration with key stakeholders including the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) and the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO).

The Church in Climate Change Initiatives

Compassion International Ghana recognizes the vital role of the church in sensitizing communities about climate change initiatives. In May 2024, CIGH organized the National Pastors’ Conference, bringing together church leaders from across the country with whom it partners.

A dedicated session on climate change featured Dr. Christopher Ampadu, West Africa Director for Samaritan Strategy. Dr. Ampadu engaged over 400 pastors in key conversations about climate change and discussed how the church can spearhead these initiatives.

Madam Amponsah also emphasized the importance of monitoring the trees planted on Green Ghana Day to ensure their growth and sustainability. To this end, Compassion International Ghana and local Church partners have developed a data tool specifically for monitoring these trees. Since 2022, the organization has planted over 19,000 seedlings.

Compassion International Ghana and Church partners remain committed to fostering a sustainable environment and encourages corporate Ghana to broaden their climate initiatives beyond Green Ghana Day.

Compassion International Ghana is Christ-centered, church-driven, and child-focused, with a vision of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. The organization executes this mandate by partnering with local churches to reach out to needy children in the local communities. Compassion International Ghana currently caters to over 98,000 children in Ghana.

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President Akufo Addo will on Friday, June 7, 2024 lead in the planting of 10 million trees in commemoration of the 2024 Green Ghana Day.

The Green Ghana Day which has become an annual affair is to help regain degraded forest due to Galamsey and whilst ensuring environmental sustainability. The day which was instituted in 2021 has gain much attention and public awareness with prominent Ghanaians planting a tree and nurturing them to grow.

Speaking to Radio Ghana Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor said since the inception of the day some 42 million trees have been planted across the country. He said the theme for this year’s Green Ghana day “ Growing for a Greener tomorrow “ encapsulates the essence of nurturing planted trees to maturity, thereby maximizing their contribution to climate resilience.

The event which seeks to target the planting of over ten million seedlings will take place at the Burma camp in Accra. This event follows a successful launch of the program by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor at the UDS auditorium in Tamale on April 16, 2024.

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has announced the ambitious plans for this year’s Green Ghana Day. Under the theme “Growing for a Greener Tomorrow,” the 2024 edition aims to plant 10 million tree seedlings on June 7, 2024, as part of Ghana’s ongoing afforestation and reforestation efforts.

Addressing the media, Hon. Jinapor emphasised the critical role trees play in addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. “Trees are the lungs of our planet, vital to our survival and well-being,” he stated.

Since its inception in 2021, the Green Ghana Project has seen significant support from the public, with over 41 million trees planted in the past three years. Hon. Jinapor noted that the survival rates of these trees have been promising, with 67% in 2021, 72% in 2022, and 81% in 2023. “This means that we have some 30 million trees surviving to date, and our task continues to be to nurture them to full maturity,” he added.

This year’s event will focus on sustainability and environmental conservation, maintaining last year’s target of 10 million trees to ensure that resources can also be devoted to nurturing previously planted trees. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will lead the national tree-planting exercise at the Nicholson Stadium, Burma Camp, Accra.

The Minister outlined the distribution plan for the seedlings, “six million will be planted in degraded forest reserves, while the remaining four million will be planted on farms, along degraded watersheds, and within communities, including schools, churches, and recreational grounds.

Among the diverse species to be planted are Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Mango, Coconut, and Cashew. Hon. Jinapor called on all sectors of society to participate actively. “I appeal to all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana, our revered chiefs and queen-mothers, religious and faith-based organisations, and everyone else to support the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to make this year’s Green Ghana Day a success,” he urged.

Seedlings will be available for collection at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, District Offices of the Forestry Commission, and various designated public places on Green Ghana Day.

“Trees are indispensable to the health of our planet and our wellbeing. The statement that ‘when the last tree dies, the last man dies’ still holds true today as ever,” Hon. Jinapor concluded, calling on all to join hands to green Ghana on June 7.

In a statement, the Minister added, “We urge our friends from the media to carry this message across and mobilise our country in support of this noble undertaking.”

The Green Ghana Day initiative continues to be a testament to the country’s commitment to environmental conservation and the fight against climate change.

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The Church had pledged to plant one million seedlings across the country to affirm its support for this year’s project.

Apostle Samuel Gyau Oboubi, the General Secretary of the Church of Pentecost, announced this when a delegation from the Forestry Commission called on the Church to join the national tree planting campaign scheduled for June 7, 2024.

This year is the fourth edition of the project with a target of planting 10 million trees across the country.

Green Ghana Day was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2021 under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

It is to restore the lost forest cover of the country, devastated by illegal small-scale mining and timber logging.

Apostle Oboubi lauded the green Ghana project, saying it was a civic responsibility for Ghanaians to save the environment.

He called on religious bodies, civil society organisations, and other institutions to come on board to support the initiative for success.

“Our God is interested in the environment, and as a Church that takes inspiration from the Bible, it is important to take good care of the environment,” he said.

He expressed concern about the activities of illegal miners in the country, which had destroyed the environment, and called on the authorities to urgently take bold decisions to ameliorate the situation.

Mr John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer, Forestry Commission, lauded the Church for their support over the years in planting at both forest reserves and outside reserve forests.

Mr Allotey said the Commission had established a monitoring committee to measure the survival rate of the seedlings every six months.

He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its agencies had made available seedlings, which include tree plants, ornamental plants, and fruit plants.

The Commission, in collaboration with other security services, had deployed a task force in the forest reserves to curtail the activities of “galamsey” in the area.

He called on Ghanaians to get involved in the project by planting a tree in each institution to replenish the lost ones.

Source: GNA

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As part of Germany’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, the European country has earmarked 3.53 billion euros to procure green hydrogen and its derivatives between 2027 and 2036.

The move is expected to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuel especially in the industrial sector as it plans to cut its carbon emissions by 65 per cent by 2030.

Speaking to journalists in Accra as part of his working visit to Ghana, Mr Till Mansmann, Special Commissioner for Innovation and Green Hydrogen from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, said Germany was seeking partners worldwide.

Mr Mansmann met with Government officials, experts and stakeholders to discuss opportunities in the green hydrogen sector as part of his visit to Ghana.

The Special Commissioner told journalists that Germany was committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and was ready to partner countries to develop solutions to reduce dependency on fossil fuel.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is expected to import up to 70 percent of its hydrogen needs in the future to meet industry demand.

Mr Mansmann said Africa, with its abundant renewable energy resources such as solar and wind, had a great potential to attract global investment in renewable energy, adding that green hydrogen was among the investment areas to focus on.

“The opportunities for renewable energy investment in Africa are really great. Ghana is a good partner for us. We have partnership in education, Mathematics and in different fields.

“We are interested in making this cooperation towards energy more intensive,” he said.

Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework targets a total shift from fossil fuel to green energy by 2070.

The country considers renewable energy as one of the options to contribute to the overall energy mix to improve security of supply and to reduce emissions.

Mr Mansmann said renewable energy is “quite cheap” and added that “investments in renewable energy are a very good idea.”

Renewable energy experts tout hydrogen as the energy source of the future, with demand for hydrogen projected to vary from 150 to 500 million metric tonnes per year by 2050, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Contrary to hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas, green hydrogen uses renewable electricity to power electrolysis that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

This process, according to experts, does not require fossil fuel, making it a better option to accelerate decarbonisation targets.

Source: GNA

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