The Shai Osudoku District Chief Executive has ordered the temporary shutdown of a factory, Shinefeel Ghana Limited, at Asutuare in the Greater Accra Region over its emissions.
The emissions from the Chinese-owned factory had been affecting students of the nearby Osudoku Secondary Technical School, leading to a boycott of academic work.
The students had wanted to embark on a demonstration if immediate steps were not taken to address their concerns.
After a meeting with all the agencies involved, the DCE, Daniel Akufo told Citi News the parties had settled on making modifications to the factory’s chimney.
“It came out clearly that we have to take some steps to avert the situation. Key in it is that it is the chimney that is a bit short. We agreed and it was resolved that we should shut the system down till the chimney height is extended to a level we all agree to before they can continue with operations.”
The school was closed down in 2017 over the same pollution concerns.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also shut down the plastic processing unit of the company, following reports by Citi FM.
The EPA team concluded that the plastic unit plant was not observing standards and had no permit to process plastics.
Relocation of school
The EPA also noted that, the school was sited in an industrial enclave and said there were plans in place to have the school moved from the area.
“That process has to be hastened to ensure that eventually the school is moved from where it is now,” the Director in charge of Technical at the EPA, Ebenezer Sampong remarked at the time.
“In the immediate term, the plastic facility has to comply with the requirements of our law, that is, the environmental assessment regulations.”