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Despite an order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the relocation of the Happy Sunshine Factory, a Chinese tomato factor located at Kuntunse in the Ga West Municipality, the factory is back in operation in defiance of the authority of the state.

Information gather appears the company is operating with the support of the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga West Municipality, Mr Clement Wilkinson despite the ban.

This development according to the EPA is at odds as to how the company is back operating after two previous orders to stop work.

Speaking on CITIFM, Mr Wilkinson, who appeared defensive of the firm, said after the EPA’s initial action, “the head office gave the tomanto factory some rules and regulations to follow said which has been adhered to.”

“I think after one week, the EPA was to come back and look at these things and if they are satisfied, then give them the go ahead. That is what I know about it,” he stated.

Mr Wilkinson, however, could not definitely state what exactly the EPA directed the factory to do after the supposed meeting when asked.

He also refuted suggestions that the Assembly was interfering with the EPA’s work adding that the EPA ordered for the closure should have been the same to have ordered for it reopening.

“My position is to solve the problem for the people and Happy Sunshine Company. I am not telling them to stay there, the EPA told them they should go back and do what they have told them,” Mr Wilkinson stressed.

More concise EPA

However, his comments are in direct contrast to the EPA which was firm in its directions to the company.

The agency first closed down Happy Sunshine Company following reports on the company’s illegal operations.

It then directed the Happy Sunshine Tomato Company managed by Chinese expatriates to relocate from the area.

The Principal Programmes Officer at the Accra Regional office of the EPA, Ms Sophia Vanderpuye, who confirmed the directive said it was made clear to management of the company that the site where they were operating is not appropriate for the kind of manufacturing activity..

“We had got evidence of the thick smoke that emanating from their chimneys into the atmosphere and with the accompanying noise issues. Based on these, they were made to understand that the EPA cannot permit such an activity in a predominately residential area so they have to relocate,” she stated.

Ms Vanderpuye, said the authority ordered the company to find an appropriate location, most preferably, an industrial area where they can conveniently produce.

The tomato factory, which belongs to some Chinese expatriates, was also fined GHȼ 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017, for operating illegally and ordered them to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the factory violated the order and resumed full production in November.