Woman, 68, calls for govt assistance to deal with oily substance

A 68-year-old woman, Madam Virginia Ghartey, has appealed to the government to assist in dealing with a black oily substance gushing out from her house which appears to be crude oil.

She said the substance had been gushing out occasionally for the past four years, but due to the lack of funds she had not been able to contract engineers either to confirm the exact substance or explain the occurrence.

Discovery

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Madam Ghartey, who resides in Old Ashongman, Down-Town, said she first discovered the oily substance and water coming from beneath her building when she was constructing a manhole about 20 years ago, but she asked the masons to stop the flow by sealing the spot with cement.

However, about four years ago she again observed the oily substance from the tiled floor which later occurred in the entire  house, including her bedroom and the living room.

Madam Ghartey, who has not been able to receive any support all this while, was apprehensive that the substance could be injurious to her health and her neighbourhood and, therefore, has called for government intervention.

Way forward

“I think we have to dig a well to confirm the presence of crude oil, if it is oil then we can report to the appropriate body that there is oil in my house. I do not have funds. Unless someone helps me to dig the well,” Madam Ghartey, who retired as Customs Senior Collector, said.

She, therefore, called on the government to offer immediate support to resolve the challenge, especially in accordance with the country’s laws which vest all natural resources in the ground in the government and not individuals.