Parliament Select Committee react to anxieties of Weija Gbewa residents on Cement factory

The Parliamentary Select committee for Environment, Science and Technology has paid a visit to the Empire cement factory and Panbros Salt Industries Limited where concerns have been raised on their operationalization.

Residents have threatened a court injunction on the functions of the aforementioned companies due to panic on the health hazards their activities could bring especially on children and the elderly, expressing their utmost surprise at the extent of both buildings that occurred without their knowledge.

Led by the member of Parliament for Weija Gbawa Municipality, Honourable Tina Gifty Naa Ayele Mansah together with the Municipal Chief Executive for Weija Gbawa, Honourable Patrick K.B Kumor and other stakeholders toured the site.

Upon their visit, the Parliamentary Select Committee for Environment Science and Technology whether the accusation laid by the residents and media is spot on.

The Ranking member, also a member of Parliament for Manya Krobo, Honourable Ebenezer Teilarbi explained that the Empire cement factory "has been given permission to only produce paper bags which is safe and will not have any knock-on effect on inhabitants in the community.

He made known that "if in the future, they will want to bag cement, it is a different approach."

"It is a different activity which involves grinding but we are not there yet."

He called on inhabitants to trust the Environmental Protection Agency to do their job.

The Managing Director for Panbros, Mr Michael Odartey briefing the media disclosed that the Parliamentary Select Committee for Environment, Science and Technology's visit to both sites will resolve the situation by putting things in place to ensure fairness.