Conformity of filling stations to safe distance guidelines in urban Ghana: A case study of the Wa Municipality

Abstract

In recent years, filling station disasters have been prevalent in Ghanaian cities. The extant literature showed that enforcing regulations regarding filling stations’ safe distance is a forward-looking step to reducing disaster risks associated with filling stations. However, in Ghana, little is known about the extent of compliance of filling stations with safe distance guidelines in the scientific literature. The study examined the level of conformity of filling stations in the Wa Municipality to two national standards on safe distance—the Ghana National Petroleum Authority (GNPA) 30.8 m health safety distance between a filling station and residential property, and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) 50 m fire safety distance between a filling station and residential property. In addition, we explored nearest residents’perspectives concerning filling stations risks. Geographic Information System (GIS) and in-depth interviews were employed in data collection and analysis. The results show that a considerable number (33.3%) of filling stations failed to comply with the GNFS 50 m guideline and 9.1% with the GNPA 30.8 m guideline. Non-compliance with filling stations’ safety guidelines was fueled by low enforcement of regulations. Nearest residents revealed that they were exposed to risk of disease and fire through noise pollution, air pollution, fuel spillage and emotional stress. We call on regulatory agencies of filling stations in urban Ghana to rise beyond personal and partisan interest and strictly enforce guidelines on siting filling stations and other physical development regulations