chiefs, politicians, and other stakeholders frustrate shutdown of illegal fuel stations – Mahama Ayariga

A former Minister of Environment has stated that politicians and other prominent people in the society prevent the closure of filling stations situated at inappropriate places in the country.

Mahama Ayariga who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central told Accra-based Rainbow Radio monitored by Ghanapoliticsonline.com that he came under pressure during his tenure as Minister in the erstwhile Mahama administration when he decided to close down fuel stations without permits.

He said some of the pressure was from within his own party and also from prominent people in the country.

“Many fuel and gas filling stations in the country don’t have permits. When I decided to close down gas and fuel filling stations without permits, I came under enormous pressure. Colleague politicians, chiefs, religious leaders, family members called me to intervene asking me to stop.”

He said the pressure he faced caused him to renege on his decision to close down illegal filling stations.

He added that there was a filling station he closed down in Accra with a restaurant and other facilities on the same compound.

“The number of calls I received from top church leaders was enormous,” he complained.

He was speaking after a gas explosion that occurred at the Atomic junction on Saturday (October 7, 2017) left 7 people dead and over 100 injured.