By Edzorna Francis Mensah
Workers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will effective Friday 3rd May, 2024 close its doors to the public over issues surrounding its official bungalow for the Executive Director.
In effect, EPA offices in all sixteen regions including the Headquarters will be closed down demanding the Minister of Works and Housing to leave the bungalow.
The divisional Chairman of Public Service Workers Union of Trade Union Congress, Environmental Protection Agency, Godsway Lawson Daniels at a news conference on 2nd May, 2024 as early as 8am stage a demonstration from their national office to their mother Ministry, Ministry of Environment Technology and Innovation (MESTI).
The Union at the press conference raised some questions including where is the official bungalow, whether it is sold and to whom, and why?.
They also question why the former Minister of Interior is not still occupying the official bungalow of the Ministry of interior.
It all started when The Sector Minister, responsible for Works and Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency relocating the official bungalow of the Executive Director of EPA to The newly appointed Minister of the Interior, Henry Quatey.
Meanwhile, the bungalow has been occupied by all successful EDs including the immediate past Boss, Henry Kokofu of EPA since 1974 when the said land was allocated to EPA by then Housing Department and EPA and of course the current edifice was built by EPA since 1974.
The residence, however, was purchased from the Housing Department by the EPA in the 90s. It’s rather unfortunate that the current ED of EPA, Dr. Kingsley Krugu is being forced out by the Minister of Works and Housing in an attempt to relocate the said property to Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey.
The question, therefore, is where should the current ED of EPA park? The workers are of the view that the EPA has invested a lot of money into the edifice and they feel that the government is intentionally taking the bungalow because of its interest in the land and the location.
EPA workers are agitating and as a sign of anger and disapproval of the action of the Works and Housing Minister to render the EPA boss homeless, red bands are all over the Headquarters of EPA.
Today, they have declared an indefinite nationwide strike over the ongoing issue.
