Residents of Kpoete, a community near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region are lamenting what they say is a possible dumping of oil into the sea there. Their complaint follows the docking of an old ship on the shores of the community for scrapping. The over 200-metre rusty ship sits at the beach and dangles as the sea waves hit against it. This is the third time in less than two years that a ship like that has been brought to the shore for scrapping, Ivy Sates, a resident, told Joy News’ Fiifi Koomson. She tells Joy News scrap contractors purchase the ships and often dump tons of oil, asbestos and other waste materials into the sea during the cutting. As a result a large swathe of the sea area is covered with a thin sheet of oil a situation that makes living in the community very uncomfortable. “Immediately they start cutting this ship all you smell are gas and iron fumes,” she lamented. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been alerted, it has turned a blind eye, they told Joy News. At the time of our visit the huge steel frame was being readied for scrapping. The EPA’s failure to deal with the situation means residents will continue to suffer the environmental hazards that come with the dumping of oil into the sea. Pieces of asbestos were found littering the shore. Ship parts are seen elsewhere stuck in the ocean floor and may never be cleared as they are too heavy to be lifted. Owners of the ship would not comment. Check photos here.