By Edzorna Francis Mensah
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has petitioned the office of Chief of Staff and copied the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Works and Housing and the Governing Board Environmental Protection Agency over ongoing development between Staff of EPA and the Ministries of Works and Housing, and the Interior over re-allocation official bungalow of EPA Boss to the Interior Minister.
The petition signed by the EPA Division of PSWU -TUC implored the intervention of Chief of Staff to prevent this unjust and unfair action of the Ministry of works and Housing.
According to them, “the EPA has occupied the said bungalow for the past 50 years, establishing it as an integral part of its operations and vital component of its infrastructure. Throughout this half-century tenure, the residence has not only served as a symbol of the Agency’s commitment to environmental protection but has also facilitated its daily functions, including meetings, official engagements, and accommodation for visiting dignitaries”.
Below is the full statement:
THE CHIEF OF STAFF
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT JUBILEE HOUSE ACCRA
Dear Madam,
PETITION: ALLOCATION OF EPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S BUNGALOW TO THE HON. MINISTER OF INTERIOR, MR. HENRY QUARTEY
We write to bring to your attention a matter of utmost urgency regarding the impending forceful eviction of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from his official Residence.
We implore the intervention of your office to prevent this unjust and unfair action of the Ministry of works and Housing. The EPA has occupied the said bungalow for the past 50 years, establishing it as an integral part of its operations and vital component of its infrastructure. Throughout this half-century tenure, the residence has not only served as a symbol of the Agency’s commitment to environmental protection but has also facilitated its daily functions, including meetings, official engagements, and accommodation for visiting dignitaries. The EPA, like many other public institutions, is confronted with several financial challenges.
Any undue strain, such as the sudden loss of his official residence would severely impact the EPA’s ability to fulfill its mandate effectively, potentially compromising ongoing environmental protection efforts and endangering public health and safety. It is pertinent to note that the Minister for the Interior has historically been allocated an official residence, similar to the arrangement enjoyed by the EPA over the past five decades.
The sudden decision to reallocate this property to the current Minister raises questions of fairness and equity. The long-standing occupancy of the EPA in the residence establishes a precedent that should be respected and upheld, especially in light of the Agency’s vital role in safeguarding the nation’s environmental interests.
The impending eviction, if not swiftly resolved, will exert undue pressure on EPA management, thereby incapacitating the Agency in financing essential environmental protection initiatives, further exacerbating its operational challenges. Such treatment not only undermines the EPA’s long-standing occupancy but it serves as a dangerous precedent that erodes trust in Government and undermines the stability of democratic systems. 1 P. 0. Box MB 326, Accra – Ghana Tel: (233-0302) 664697 /8 667524, 662465 Fax: (233-0302) 662690 Email: pswu@epa.gov.gh Failure to address this matter promptly and decisively may lead to serious agitation among EPA staff, potentially culminating in labour actions and other disruptive measures.
The uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Executive Director’s residence has already generated anxiety and frustration among staff, threatening to disrupt Agency operations and compromise its ability to fulfill its statutory obligations. Swift action is therefore imperative to restore confidence, preserve stability, and uphold the integrity of the EPA. This situation is threatening to disrupt the Agency’s operations and compromise its ability to fulfill its statutory obligations, swift action is therefore imperative to prevent the eviction of the Executive Director of the EPA from his official Residence.
Your timely intervention in this regard will not only uphold the principles of fairness and justice but also safeguard the effective functioning of the EPA in fulfilling its critical environmental protection mandate. We eagerly await your swift and favorable response.
