By Enock Akonnor enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
Diversion and smuggling of fuel mostly via Bulk Road Vehicles are highly prevalent at Manso; a community within the Amansie West District- officials of National Petroleum Authority have disclosed.
NPA has named “galamsey” as the cause of the upsurged illegality.
Explanation given by officials is that, because persons invloved in the illegal mining do not have the necessary mining documents, they are unable to request for bulk purchase from NPA and as a result resort to smuggled and diverted fuels.
However with the assistance of the security personnel, NPA this year alone has been able to impound 13 Bulk Road Vehicles that were engaged in the act in Ashanti region.
These were disclosed at a media sensitization programm, held in Kumasi on Monday 6th November, 2023.
The Ashanti Regional Manger, Betty Adwoa Ofori told the press at the event that the number of recorded cases is declining.
She also said that 80 table-top sellers of fuel have also been identified and that NPA will soon effect a prosecutorial action against them.
Aside the above-mentioned, some common violations highlighted in her presentation at the event are:
- Non-adherence to outlet ethics and warnings
- Not switching off engine and mobile phone before re-fueling
- Shaking car to accommodate more fuel
- Third party retailers, etc
Prosecutorial Powers
Legal Manager at the Legal Directorate of NPA, Farida Ali-Musah announced at the engagement that the Authority will from the first quarter of next year 2024 commence prosecution of offenders.
The foregoing is premised on the fact that the NPA has been given prosecutorial Powers by the Attorney General to prosecute crimes in the oil supply chain in the country.
The Executive Instrument (EI) 378, which the Authority obtained in 2020, will enable the NPA to ensure successful prosecution of cases in the petroleum downstream industry and stem the tide of crime in the sector.
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