The Oil Marketing Companies involved in distributing premix fuel across the country, are calling for the publication of weekly audits of the product.
According to them, the move will curb the diversion of the product in the country and ensure transparency in the sector.
[contextly_sidebar id=”fHuesJ4BcCEZ2DcIeT8jBP8LQDLjPwPm”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, Coordinator of the Premix OMCs, Kwaku Agyeman Duah, insisted that they need the “weekly audits,” to help “stop the diversions.”
“There is a weekly audit. With the pre-mix, the orders are issued every week to the Landing beach committees with the OMCs transporting it. What we are asking for is for transparency sake so that somebody would not say he didn’t get it or someone will say that it was diverted. Let’s put it [weekly audits] out there so that everybody knows,” he added.
Over 200 premix diversions recorded since January 2017
At least 200 cases of premix fuel diversions have been cited by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) since January 2017.
In all instances, products documented to be bound for outside the Greater Accra Region, ended up within the region, according to information obtained by the NPA’s BRV Tracking System and Returns.
Some OMCs have borne the brunt of the criticism in the wake of the scandal.
According to Mr. Duah, not all the 14 OMCs cited for the diversions are part of the association of premix distributing OMCs.
Suspend OMCs, dissolve Committees
The Akufo-Addo government has been advised to immediately suspend its contract with the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in charge of transporting premix fuel to the various landing beaches across the country.
The Co-convener of the Civil Society Alliance on Fisheries, Richster Nii Amarfio, who made the call, said the state oil company, GOIL, could be directed to take charge of distributing the product, while government puts measures in place to investigate the current scandal in the sector, which has come about as a result of diversion of premix fuel.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifimonline.com
Follow @AlloteyGodwin