Some staff of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST), say they will resist attempts by the Minority in Parliament to have their Chief Executive Officer (CEO) interdicted over the sale of contaminated fuel.
The Minority had argued that the transaction between BOST and two unlicensed companies, Movenpiina and Zup Oil, which led to the distribution of about 5 million litres of contaminated fuel, was fraught with irregularities and possible corruption to the tune of 14.25 million cedis.
[contextly_sidebar id=”GFmRzl4ifJ8skY7oOZ7rovrfoYXXZ9Tg”]But the staff of BOST in a petition addressed to the Minister of Energy, Chief of Staff, and the Minister of National Security, dismissed these suggestions, arguing that “the sale of off-spec product is not new to the operations of BOST.”
They claimed that “BOST receives request from dealers of Off-spec products and this dates back from 2014, 2015 and 2016, but in all these situations, we saw nothing untoward. The same process was followed in the sale of the recent one.”
They described the Minority’s claims as a “deliberate attempt to destroy the integrity of the MD, and most importantly stop the MD from going ahead with ongoing probes into numerous malfeasance in past contracts. ”
They therefore called on the “general public to disregard the call by Minority in Parliament for the interdiction of the MD of BOST…and support the MD’s quest to ensuring that all who have aided in looting the nation through BOST are duly punished.
“The deliberate attempt to put impediments on Mr. Alfred Obeng Boateng’s way is unacceptable and hence our decision to register our displeasure. The presence of this MD has brought unity amongst staff, and he has also demonstrated clear leadership with clear direction and plans for the company.”
The two companies unlicensed – NPA
The two companies involved in the sale of the contaminated fuel, Zup Oil and Movenpinaa Energy, were found to be unlicensed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), thus contravening section 11 of the National Petroleum Authority Act, ACT 691, 2005.
The African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), which first alleged that these companies were unlicensed also called for the BOST MD to step aside to allow a probe into the matter.
The NPA has already conducted preliminary investigations into the matter.
Gov’t sets up investigative committee
An eight-member committee set up by government to probe the contaminated fuel sale has been mandated to determine the circumstances that led to the contamination of the fuel and review the transaction.
The committee will also review the procedures undertaken by BOST to evacuate the product and ascertain the quality and remaining quantity of the product.
The committee will be made up of representatives of; the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Tema oil Refinery (TOR), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Bureau of National Investigations, Chamber of Bulk oil Distributors, Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Energy Commission and a representative from the relevant Civil Society Organizations.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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