Shama Kumase Community worried about siting of proposed cement factory

The residents of Shama-Kumase in the Shama District of the Western Region, have expressed concern about the proposed siting of a new cement factory closed to the community and schools.

Their fear stemmed from the fact that the factory, had the tendency to produce a lot of dust, which could result in respiratory conditions, pollution of water bodies and release of liquid waste that may affect plant life.

The indigenes here are mostly peasant farmers.

Dragon Cement, the proposed Chinese project may be sited on a 20acre land at the heart of the Shama Kumase community.

The community members were vehemently against the project because it would be sited close to cluster of schools, with purported constant noise interference and road traffic increasing along the stretch.

The people fear the heavy traffic might result in incidents and crashes among school pupils in particular and community members.

These key concerns emerged from a public hearing organised by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on Thursday, October 16 to engage the people on the proposed 500,000 metric tonnes capacity Dragon Cement factory in that community.

Nana Nkanomako IV, Chief of Shama Graveldo, who spoke at the hearing, urged the EPA to technically ascertain the suitability of the project.

She said: “EPA, factory inspectorate and other key government organisations here must do the right things for our community…we know how companies have caused havoc with pollution and environmental destruction all over and how the health and even foodstuffs have been affected.”

She also contested the land for the project which, she claimed belonged to her family-Nkyekyer Agona Royal family.

Prophet Robert Dentu, (rtd), Former National Director of Ghana Evangelism Committe, Church of Pentecost, said the project had far reaching health and other human rights concerns than the economic benefit it presented.

Teachers, Assembly members, unit committees members, youth, women and men who spoke at the Public Hearing collaborated largely with the sentiments expressed by the people.

Nana Akra Kwesi, a resident, said no citizens should be victimised by any political party for expressing genuine concerns about the siting of the business in the community.

He noted that human capital of any nation could not be quantified in monetary terms, and urged the government to heed to their plea of relocating the facility.

Meanwhile, Mr Shine Fiagome, the Western Regional Director of the EPA, said the Authority in pursuit of regulations Six of the LI 2504, had conducted a screening of the proposed site.

“The assessment revealed that the undertaking may have extensive and far reaching environmental impacts and had attracted adverse public reaction,” he added.

Mr Emmanuel Sarkoh Cudjoe, the General Manager of the proposed factory, noted that the concerns of the community had forced the company to research into technologies that could help manage the dust from the production when on stream.

“We will introduce a second layer of protection that will trap all the dust from production to carting out of the premises by the trucks…the community should not be worried or fear, our company promises to do the needful to ensure better community and company relationships,” he added.

Source: GNA

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