The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has shutdown a steel factory within the Free Zone Enclave in Tema in the Greater Accra Region, for polluting the environment.
The closure of the steel factory has resulted in some 400 workers being laid off.
EPA in February this year, partially shutdown the operations of the steel factory – United Steel – after some workers of the factory in November last year made complaints to the EPA over the heavy smoke pollution.
This was to force the factory better its pollution control system.
The heavy pollution according to some of the workers, has severely affected their respiratory system.
Executive Director of EPA, Henry Kwabena Kokofu after the closure of the factory, noted the factory is going to remain fully closed until management fixes its pollution challenges despite the economic benefits derived from the factory’s operations.
“Four hundred (400) workers sitting at home is not a pleasant situation, as much as we want our young men and women to work, as much as we want the needed revenue to come in the form of taxes and all that, we cannot compromise on the integrity of the environment. We all know the consequences pollution brings, so we will work within the law,” he stated.
