This is to protest government’s decision to implement the cylinder re-circulation module, which was proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure that LPG filling points are sited out of densely populated areas and commercial centres.

These plants will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets and stations, deemed to be low risk, after government’s assessment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FtnLFFCcU91RHKgNkKXJTy1NNW4rORZ4″]Citi News sources say the policy was developed in 2012, but it could not be immediately implemented.

However, following a massive gas explosion at Atomic Junction about two weeks ago, President Nana Addo issued a directive for the policy to be implemented.

In reaction to this, Citi News has gathered that the Ghana LPG Marketing Companies and its affiliates, are planning to lay down their tools on Wednesday, October 18 to register their disquiet.

The explosion has so far claimed at least seven lives, and injured over 100 persons. The loss of lives even touched closer to the Presidency, as a presidential correspondent for Net 2 TV lost his life in the commotion sparked by the explosion.

The outrage over the explosion was the culmination of widespread concern over the lax safety standards of some LPG and petrol filling stations, which have seen about eight major explosions since 2014, not counting the June 3 fire and flood disaster at a petrol station near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Cylinder Recirculation Module will collapse our businesses – LPG marketers

The threat of a strike comes days after the Public Relations Officer of the LPG Marketers Association, Bernard Owiredu, expressed his outfit’s disquiet over plans to introduce the module.

Mr. Owiredu had indicated that, the current module is targeted at collapsing their businesses, despite their many years of existence in the industry.

Cylinder circulation won’t favour the poor – COPEC

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), also raised concerns about the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution, suggesting it may burden poor Ghanaians.

The Chamber’s Executive Director, Duncan Amoah, noted the inflexibility of the programme and suggested the old system of distribution be employed alongside the new module ordered by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

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By: Marian Ansah & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is despite the National Petroleum Authority’ (NPA) denying any it has any deal with Puma Energy Limited to supply of gas and LPG cylinders to domestic consumers as part of the Cylinder Recirculation Module.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PQTuf5yN6ln7QJi5xLHvRDOfUEjhXrn8″]There has still not been any formal communication to them from the NPA and the plan to strike will still hold until it gets “something concrete.”

This is according to Bernard Donkor, the Public Relations Officer for the Gas Tanker Drivers Association, who indicated some distrust for the NPA saying “we have been dealing with the NPA for some time now and we know their ways of operating.”

The NPA released a statement to the General public denying the ties with Puma first alleged by the Gas Tanker Drivers Association.

The authority said the claims from the Gas Tanker Drivers Association were an outright falsehood.

Mr. Donkor acknowledged the statement from the NPA but said his group is “expecting that we get a direct communication, either written or verbal to that effect.”

“The communication that came from the NPA was for the general public. If we should go by what they have said to the General Public, which has not been directed at us, I don’t think we will be doing ourselves any good.”

Thus he said, “if we get the desired results, definitely, we are going to hold on [with the strike] but until that, we will go ahead with all our plans as scheduled.”

Discontent with policy

When the Association first raised concerns with the Cylinder Recirculation Module, it expressed fears that the policy if allowed will throw them out of business, and cause the collapse of all gas filling stations in the country.

The associations warned that about 7,000 Ghanaians workers in the LPG chain would be laid off, aggravating the already high unemployment situation in the country.

The LPG Marketers Association also feel the plan to introduce the Cylinder Recirculation Module is targeted at collapsing their businesses despite their long operation within the industry.

They, however, feel the policy can be implemented through them due to their experience in the industry, spanning over 30 years.

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By: Minna Dablu/Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The NPA, in a statement responding to claims by the Gas Tanker Drivers Association, said no other Company has been issued a license to do the cylinder recirculation as part of the Cylinder Recirculation Module.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oaf7HcMnetIrRN1OjXyf5hffH3jvD9sT”]The authority said the claims from the Gas Tanker Drivers Association were “an outright falsehood perpetuated by the Association.”

“We wish to categorically state that neither Puma Energy Limited nor any other Company has been issued a license to do cylinder recirculation. Puma Energy is a licensed Oil Marketing Company whose primary role is to sell petroleum products to bulk consumers and the general public through retail stations and reselling outlets.”

The Association of Gas Tanker Drivers hinted of a nationwide strike if the NPA failed to withdraw the Cylinder Recirculation Module.

According to the group, the policy if allowed, will throw them out of business, and collapse all gas stations in the country.

The association also said about 7,000 Ghanaians workers in the LPG chain will have to be laid off, aggravating the already high unemployment situation in the country.

In response to this, the NPA said this policy will “seek to maintain the existing jobs” and is also going to “create more jobs based on the category of licenses to be created in the implementation plan.”

It was initially believed the module would start in September 2017 but the NPA has clarified that the “policy is in a draft stage which is yet to be finalized and submitted to Cabinet for approval before implementation.”

Find below the full NPA statement

RE: 7000 GAS TANKER DRIVERS TO LOSE THEIR JOBS BY SEPTEMBER

The attention of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has been drawn to a purported statement emanating from the Gas Tanker Drivers Association and widely circulated in the media yesterday 2nd August, 2017 with the above caption in which a number of false allegations were made and we hereby seek to clarify and set the records straight.

Claim 1: Contract with Puma Energy

The publication claimed Government had entered into a contractual agreement with Puma Energy Limited to be the sole entity tasked with the supply of gas and LPG cylinders to domestic consumers. This is an outright falsehood perpetuated by the Association. We wish to categorically state that neither Puma Energy Limited nor any other Company has been issued a license to do cylinder recirculation. Puma Energy is a licensed Oil Marketing Company whose primary role is to sell petroleum products to bulk consumers and the general public through retail stations and reselling outlets.

Claim 2: Policy to commence on September 1, 2017

Contrary to the claim that the Cylinder Re-circulation Model policy is set to be implemented beginning September 1, 2017, the policy is in a draft stage which is yet to be finalised and submitted to cabinet for approval before implementation. The ministerial sub-committee led by NPA is currently reviewing the policy and at the same time developing a draft implementation plan.

The NPA has held two separate meetings with LPG/Oil Marketing Companies to collate their concerns and these have been taken care of in the draft policy implementation plan. Further consultations will be held with the said companies and other stakeholders including the Gas Tanker Drivers before the policy is finalized and implemented.

Claim 3: Policy will keep thousands out of job

It is worthy to mention that while the policy will seek to maintain the existing jobs, it is also going to create more jobs based on the category of licences to be created in the implementation plan.

Conclusion

In this regard, the NPA wishes to assure the general public that it is not in our interest to keep the Gas Tanker Drivers Association out of job as is being speculated.

As the Regulator of the petroleum downstream industry, we have a responsibility to safeguard the interest of all our service providers as well as consumers.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the current module is targeted at collapsing their businesses despite their long operation within the industry.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CQh3wta97DU6QjoLrrJmfTD65gwfKjxr”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, Mr. Owiredu said the policy can be implemented through them due to their experience in the industry.

He said the marketers had been operating in the sector for over 30 years and therefore must be players in any such move which according to government is to provide access to safe LPG in the country.

“We have been in the business of distributing gas for well over 30 years and by our own plans and strategies, we have been expanding our business so if indeed the policy seeks to extend LPG usage, you have to do with through us because we are the operators and we have been serving the populace LPG for 30 years… You are creating a new business by destroying existing legal businesses,” he said

Citi News sources say the policy plan was developed in 2012 but it could not be immediately implemented.

According to Mr. Oweridu, it was surprising the new government had reintroduced the policy because his outfit caused the former government to suspend it due to the challenges it would cause in the sector.

He added that many markers had contracted loans to expand their businesses hence the implementation of the program would see them run into huge debts.

“Some of us have gone for loans to expand our business, so you don’t seek to achieve a policy aim by destroying our businesses…we are the best people to implement the policy,” he said.

In a related development, he Association of Gas Tanker Drivers has hinted of a nationwide strike if the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) fails to withdraw the Cylinder Recirculation Module which is expected to be implemented in September this year.

According to the group, the policy if allowed will throw them out of business, and cause the collapse of all gas filling stations in the country.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cylinder Recirculation Module will collapse our businesses – LPG marketers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the region abounds in many tourist facilities which have not been discovered by the public, and have the potential to become the largest tourist destinations in the country.

Mr Debrah noted that, the tourist potential of the region when developed could create huge employment opportunities for people in the region, especially those within the catchment areas, adding that “the media must not fail to support us in this noble agenda.”

The Regional Minister made the appeal when he hosted the media at Senchi, as part of the media’s tour of the region’s hospitality industries and tourists’ sites.

According to him, the RCC in collaboration with the municipal and district assemblies,  were working hard to woo investors into the region, to improve upon its tourist sites, and observed that the Media was an important partner in that direction.

He urged the media to use its platforms to market the abundant tourist attractions in the region, pointing that apart from the Boti Falls which had become a household tourist site, not only in the region, but in Ghana, there were many waterfalls such as Tini Falls at Adasewase near Anyinam, Akaa Falls, close to the Boti Falls area, and many others that have not been developed.

Mr Debrah also mentioned the number of hotels which could compete with high class hotels anywhere in the country, especially in Accra, that were in the region and a further boost to tourism development, and urge the media once again to support such businesses to thrive through their platforms to create more employment.

Source: GNA

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