Speaking earlier at a news conference in Accra, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, said the deal, which cost the country a revenue loss of GHc30 million through the sale of 1.8 million barrels of crude oil to BB Energy, was avoidable.

The Executive Secretary of COPEC , Duncan Amoah on Eyewitness News explained that investigation by the Special Prosecutor has become necessary, given that the said transaction was fraught with some inconsistencies.

[contextly_sidebar id=”p3EdpmEGd66bRaagq34hBzQsF9XOZpEf”]“We think that circumstances surrounding the fields are still shrouded in a lot of shady activities. We have questioned the need to provide an instant transaction that was secured. Why will you sell to a company that has no license at all to do so? There are a lot of inconsistencies as far as this crude transaction is concerned, and we believe that the Special Prosecutor just like all well-meaning Ghanaians, would want to get to the bottom of this matter to see where certain things were not done right.”

Mr. Amoah believes a thorough investigation by the Special Prosecutor will also avert the huge debt hanging on BOST and other petroleum companies.

“Certain financial laws might have been occasioned, we would want to see to it that issues are corrected so that going forward, the kind of debt that we have today hanging on BOST and other petroleum companies will be averted and the consumer will not be asked to pay for it another time.”

Duncan Amoah had earlier accused BOST of causing financial loss to the state in the alleged sale of crude oil to BB Energy below the international market price.

The Managing Director of BOST, Obeng Boateng, however rubbished these claims, describing them as false and baseless.

Mr. Obeng Boateng said Duncan Amoah was simply an “enemy to the progress” and should “be ignored at all times.”

BOST MD sues Duncan Amoah

He subsequently sued Duncan Amoah, demanding GHc5 million in damages.

According to Mr. Obeng Boateng, Mr. Amoah made a false claim when he suggested that he [ Alfred Obeng Boateng] through his agents, had threatened to take his life, following the fresh allegations of financial malfeasance he leveled against him and the BOST.

Energy committee to probe BOST

The Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament also waded into the controversy, saying it will probe the matter.

The Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi said BOST and other interested parties in the matter will be engaged to better inform the Committee on how to deal with the issue.

“We engaged BOST before this issue came up, and we were scheduled to meet them again when this issue came up. We want to take our time and meet them and do proper due diligence; we have to get the necessary documentation so that we can reach an informed decision,” he said.

2017 contaminated fuel scandal

In 2017, BOST was widely criticized for selling 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to two unlicensed companies, Movenpinaa and Zup Oil, which were allegedly set up a few days before the sale, costing Ghana about GHc 7 million in revenue.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) also confirmed that the two companies alleged to have purchased the over 5 million litres of contaminated fuel under suspicious circumstances from BOST were not licensed.

According to the NPA, it was going to take legal action against the firms, while it conducted further investigations.

The Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, also set up an investigative committee to look into the matter, which eventually cleared BOST and its Managing Director, Alfred Obeng Boateng of wrongdoing, citing a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and National Security reports.

There were however calls to initiate fresh investigations into the matter amid discontent from the Minority in Parliament and some Civil Society groups.

As a result of the scandal, the Energy Minister stated that private firms were no longer allowed to lift contaminated oil from BOST as part of interim measures to prevent the supply of contaminated fuel onto the Market.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post COPEC officially petitions Special Prosecutor to probe BOST appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at a Press conference in Accra, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, said the deal, which cost the country a revenue loss of GHc30 million through the sale of 1.8 million barrels of crude oil to BB Energy, was avoidable.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VPRA0C8gAs3tR5ZyTHuiN8GpQUfcZ5ww”]“These were avoidable losses, completely avoidable and we have said that these monies could have come to the state. BOST would need to come again. All they’ve tried to do are gymnastics…and that is the more reason we have decided as a chamber to pursue this matter to the logical conclusion through the Special Prosecutor’s office. A lot of questions remain unanswered.  We released a single report and BOST have had to somersault seven times in one week,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VPRA0C8gAs3tR5ZyTHuiN8GpQUfcZ5ww”]Duncan Amoah last week accused BOST of causing financial loss to the state over the alleged sale of crude to BB Energy below the international market price.

The Managing Director of BOST, Obeng Boateng, however rubbished the claims and described them as false and baseless.

Mr. Obeng Boateng said Duncan Amoah was simply an “enemy to the progress” and should “be ignored at all times.”

But the COPEC Executive Director at the press conference said he stands by his claims.

“It is not surprising that BB Energy wrote two months after the shameful purchase of the crude from BOST for license from the NPA which was declined. Our checks further indicate that BB Energy as of today is still paying for the crude. They have not finished paying six months after the transaction. What we gather further is that when TOR processes the crude, BB Energy picks and makes payments to BOST. So like we’ve said earlier, what really changed is the ownership and giving of the product to BB Energy. Nothing useful, nothing purposeful, no gain ever came to Ghana as far as that crude is concerned.”

“When BOST engages in these inefficient transactions that leave BOST with huge debts, it is not the BOST managing Director or anyone at BOST that is paying for it. It is the average Ghanaian who will be asked at a later day to pay it.  As we speak, BOST is reeling under a debt of almost GHc900 million,” Duncan Amoah added.

Energy committee to probe BOST

The Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament had already waded into the latest controversy saying it will probe the matter.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, BOST and other interested parties in the matter will be engaged to better inform the Committee on how to deal with the issue.

“We engaged BOST before this issue came up, and we were scheduled to meet them again when this issue came up. We want to take our time and meet them and do proper due diligence; we have to get the necessary documentation so that we can reach an informed decision,” he said.

BOST MD sues Duncan Amoah

Alfred Obeng Boateng, has subsequently sued Duncan Amoah demanding GHc5 million in damages.

According to Mr. Obeng Boateng, Mr. Amoah made a false claim when he suggested that he [ Alfred Obeng Boateng] through his agents, had threatened to take his life, following the fresh allegations of financial malfeasance he levelled against him and the BOST.

2017 contaminated fuel scandal

In 2017, BOST was widely criticized for selling 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to two unlicensed companies, Movenpinaa and Zup Oil, which were allegedly set up a few days before the sale, costing Ghana about GHc 7 million in revenue.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) also confirmed that the two companies alleged to have purchased the over 5 million litres of contaminated fuel under suspicious circumstances from BOST were not licensed.

According to the NPA, it was going to take legal action against the firms, while it conducted further investigations.

The Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, also set up an investigative committee to look into the matter, which eventually cleared BOST and its Managing Director, Alfred Obeng Boateng of wrongdoing, citing a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and National Security reports.

There were however calls to initiate fresh investigations into the matter amid discontent from the Minority in Parliament and some Civil Society groups.

As a result of the scandal, the Energy Minister stated that private firms were no longer allowed to lift contaminated oil from BOST as part of interim measures to prevent the supply of contaminated fuel onto the Market.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post COPEC to petition Special Prosecutor to probe BOST appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The alleged death threats are currently being investigated by the Tema Regional Police.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YxilvOBQw2zUVErWnFaAvUk8qWmu3wO2″]The BOST MD, Alfred Obeng Boateng, has sued Mr. Amoah contending that the claims that his associate issued the death threats were false.

He is seeking an injunction keeping Mr. Amoah from making such claims as well as GHc5 million in damages.

Mr. Amoah, speaking on Eyewitness News, however said he was yet to be served with the writ, adding that “this is a summons that our lawyers will equally deal with.”

He said he hoped Mr. Obeng Boateng would have waited for police investigations to end before taking such legal action.

“What I can say is that investigations into this is already underway with the Tema Police and one would have expected that we would at least get to end of the investigation so that if there is no substance in those threats, Mr. Obeng Boateng would have pursued another avenue.”

He maintained that the death threats were real and that “for three days, I have had to go without sleeping in my own house and that clearly is not a very pleasant situation.”

Background to death threats

At the centre of the threats are allegations that BOST cost the state GHC 23 million in revenue by selling some crude oil at a discount to an unregistered company.

According to Mr. Amoah, about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil was sold in the said transaction in September 2017.

He narrated that someone who claimed to be a friend of the BOST MD called him asking to meet over the claims.

“At the initial stage, all he [The caller] tried to sound nice suggesting that we should meet and see if there are compromises… When I objected he said the threats begun from some numbers,” he recounted.

“The person came trying to get a gentleman’s agreement from me as far as the report we have put together about the BOST transaction is concerned. When that backfired, they now resorted to threats and attempts to take me out completely.”

Despite the suit, Mr. Amoah said he would stick by his assertions.

“They should prepare Nsawam [Prison for me] because I would be willing to spend 1,000 years just fighting for what is right… If you sold Duncan Amoah, you wont get 5 million. He should rather go and do a criminal thing such that I can just go [to prison]. I am only asking questions and I will not keep quiet.”

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

The post I’ll face BOST MD in court over ‘death threat’- Duncan Amoah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr. Obeng Boateng, Mr. Amoah made a false claim when he suggested that he [ Alfred Obeng Boateng] through his agents, had threatened to take his life, following allegations of financial malfeasance he leveled against him and the BOST recently.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iiF60ZMI5A5rbLvf1VnnwpHkunw0P4Vj”]The suit, which is expected to be moved on 23rd March in the High Court said: “ The plaintiff/applicant herein praying this honourable court for an order of injunction restraining the defendant/ respondent herein, his agents, assigns, workmen, and all persons claiming through or under him from further publishing or broadcasting any word or words or images in any manner whatsoever to the effect that plaintiff had coopted, engaged, contracted or solicited the services of any person or persons to curse, insult, attack, threaten the life of the defendant or threaten to kill defendant in three days pending a final determination to this suit upon terms more particularly stated in the accompanying affidavit.”

He is, therefore, asking the court to slap a GHC2 million damages against the defendant for damaging his professional reputation; 2 million cedis for damaging his social reputation and 1 million cedis for the psychological trauma the death threat publication has had on him.

Duncan Amoah had claimed his life was in danger after he uncovered a supposed shady deal at BOST which is believed to have cost the nation GHC 23 million in revenue.

According to Duncan Amoah, about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil was sold at a discount to an unlicensed company known as BB Energy.

He indicated that some unidentified assailants allegedly linked to Mr. Obeng had since this revelation  vowed to eliminate him in three days.

Mr. Obeng, in a rebuttal, however dismissed these claims, saying the COPEC boss was being used to distract the new BOST administration.

The BOST MD held that if Duncan Amoah had genuine concerns, he would have approached BOST through more appropriate avenues as opposed to public utterances.

“If Duncan Amoah meant well, the first thing to do is to find out the rationale behind such decision be it commercial or not. But you cannot just get up and issue such statement that has potential to damage reputation of your fellow human beings and the very company that belongs to all of us as Ghanaians because of your individual interest of looking for cheap money.”

Mr. Obeng Boateng lamented further that, “everyday management [of BOST] is having crisis meeting because of these false and misleading publications thereby preventing management from concentrating on its core mandate.”

“Ghanaians and the media should not allow this selfish individual to fool us by placing his interest above the national interest, he added.

Explanation for ‘discount’

Mr. Obeng Boateng noted that, the oil in question could not have been sold at the official price because of the amount of time that had passed between the time of purchase and sale.

“In his [Duncan Amoah] statement, he exposed his ignorance when he stated that at the international level Quaibo Crude is sold at Brent plus $0.85 per barrel as official price, and therefore BOST has caused financial loss to the state by selling its own at a discount of $2 per barrel. It must be noted here that a cargo imported with the aim of refining or using for one purpose but did not materialize and reselling it about 10 months later, cannot be sold at the official price. Such a product is considered distress and is always sold at a discount globally.”

“As we speak, BOST has offers for such distress cargoes at a discount of $4 per barrel. Any person competent in the industry would have asked for the details before issuing this illogical and baseless statement actuated by malice and selfish interest to mislead the good people of Ghana. Thus keeping the crude for such a period may affect the quality and for that matter the yield, hence the assay is a factor in pricing,” he explained.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post BOST MD sues Duncan Amoah over ‘death threat’ claims appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a strongly-worded statement, Mr. Obeng Boateng said Duncan Amoah was simply an “enemy to the progress” and should “be ignored at all times.”

This was in response to claims by Duncan Amoah that Ghana lost about GHc23 million in revenue when 1.8 million barrels of crude oil was sold at a discount to an unlicensed company.

He alleged that the discount was at two dollars a barrel when prices on the international market were on the rise.

But Mr. Obeng Boateng in a statement said the COPEC boss was being used to distract the new BOST administration “through false, baseless, needless and malicious publications… for no other reason but for their personal and selfish individual interest.”

The BOST MD held that if Duncan Amoah had genuine concerns, he would have approached BOST through more appropriate avenues as opposed to public utterances.

“If Duncan Amoah meant well, the first thing to do is to find out the rationale behind such decision be it commercial or not. But you cannot just get up and issue such statement that has potential to damage reputation of your fellow human beings and the very company that belongs to all of us as Ghanaians because of your individual interest of looking for cheap money.”

Mr. Obeng Boateng lamented further that, “everyday management [of BOST] is having crisis meeting because of these false and misleading publications thereby preventing management from concentrating on its core mandate.”

“Ghanaians and the media should not allow this selfish individual to fool us by placing his interest above the national interest, he added.

Explanation for ‘discount’

Mr. Obeng Boateng noted that, the oil in question could not have been sold at the official price because of the amount of time that had passed between the time of purchase and sale.

“In his [Duncan Amoah] statement, he exposed his ignorance when he stated that at the international level Quaibo Crude is sold at Brent plus $0.85 per barrel as official price, and therefore BOST has caused financial loss to the state by selling its own at a discount of $2 per barrel. It must be noted here that a cargo imported with the aim of refining or using for one purpose but did not materialize and reselling it about 10 months later, cannot be sold at the official price. Such a product is considered distress and is always sold at a discount globally.”

“As we speak, BOST has offers for such distress cargoes at a discount of $4 per barrel. Any person competent in the industry would have asked for the details before issuing this illogical and baseless statement actuated by malice and selfish interest to mislead the good people of Ghana. Thus keeping the crude for such a period may affect the quality and for that matter the yield, hence the assay is a factor in pricing,” he explained.

Find below the full statement

Bost MD Reacts to Duncan Amoah False Allegations

To commence I would like to put it on record that Duncan Amoah the so-called executive secretary of Copec is an enemy to the progress of BOST. He should therefore be ignored at all times.

Duncan Amoah is one of the people being used to used to distract the new administration through false, baseless, needless and malicious publications against BOST since the assumption of office by Mr Alfred Obeng, the current Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Limited for no other reason but for their personal and selfish individual interest.

We are not insulated from criticism but criticism must be constructive and logic devoid of personal interest and malice.

The statement issued about BOST by Duncan Amoah, a man who is an enemy to the progress of BOST is not only unfortunate and misleading but a clear sign of his ignorance about the petroleum industry that he is deceiving the media and the general public that he has a rich knowledgeable in.

In his statement, he exposed his ignorance when he stated that at the international level Quaibo Crude is sold at Brent plus $0.85 per barrel as official price and therefore BOST has caused financial loss to the state by selling its own at a discount of $2 per barrel. It must be noted here that a cargo imported with the aim of refining or using for one purpose but did not materialise and reselling it about 10 months later cannot be sold at the official price. Such a product is considered distress and is always sold at a discount globally. As we speak BOST has offers for such distress cargoes at a discount of $4 per barrel. Any person competent in the industry would have asked for the details of the assay before issuing this illogical and baseless statement actuated by malice and selfish interest to mislead the good people of Ghana. Thus keeping the crude for such a period may affect the quality and for that matter the yield, hence the assay is a factor in pricing.

He further stated that crude price hit $70 per barrel in January 2018. Is he saying that BOST should have waited to that time before selling the product? If that is what he wanted to put across then it is better he swallows it because same will expose his weakness in analysing commercial decisions. If that is what he thinks then it is equally advisable for BOST to have waited and sell it somewhere the year 2050 perhaps crude price may hit $150 per barrel. Duncan Amoah should revise his notes very well if indeed he had ever had education in petroleum otherwise he should seek admission to study certificate in petroleum in order for him to have the required competent to criticise constructively.

If Duncan Amoah meant well the first thing to do is to find out the rationale behind such decision be it commercial or not. But you cannot just get up and issue such statement that has potential to damage reputation of your fellow human beings and the very company that belongs to all of us as Ghanaians because of your individual interest of looking for cheap money.

His allegation that when selling the crude BOST did not involve Tema Oil Refinery where the crude was kept again shows how naive Dancun Amoah is in the petroleum downstream industry. What role would TOR play when BOST is selling its own product? When BDCs are selling their products in BOST  system does BOST get involve? BOST only informed TOR of the new owner with a release letter as the practice in the industry.

Further allegation that BB Energy processed the crude at TOR without license is outside the mandate of BOST and therefore Dancun Amoah should find out the exact arrangement BB Energy had with TOR and NPA before accusing BOST since same is outside BOST responsibilities. He thinks BB Energy did so illegally he can report same to NPA to sanction them.

Commenting on the tolling fees charged by TOR, again this is outside BOST mandate but in any event the Managing Director of TOR and his team have been given the mandate to take decisions that will promote the success of the company hence can take commercial decision in the interest of TOR.  Assuming that the tolling fee was $3.5 per barrel against $4 or $4.5 per barrel at the international level, does Dancun Amoah know the factors underlying TOR decision to accept the $3.5?

One of major factors in deciding tolling fee is the efficiency of the refinery, which Duncan Amoah did not mention but jump to accuse people of wrongdoing. He cannot run down state institutions any how just because of his personal interest?

Again it is clear from the statement that Duncan Amoah so called executive secretary of Copec lacks both fact of the transaction and the knowledge in the petroleum downstream industry.  First of all the crude sold to BB Energy was 942000 barrels but not 1.8 million barrels as he claims.

For his information 1 million barrels of the TEN crude was being refined when TOR broke down. The remaining was given back to the supplier called AOT to set off our indebtedness to that company. So where did he Dancun Amoah get this 1.8  million barrels crude alleged to have sold to BB Energy from?

We are appealing to the media and the general public to ignore this man and his so called Copec formed for personal gains at the expense of the national interest.

The same person has been complaining about rising of fuel prices and at the same time distracting the very company that requires peaceful mind to strategize to stabilise fuel prices in the market.  Everyday management is having crisis meeting because of these false and misleading publications thereby preventing management from concentrating on its core mandate. Ghanaians and the media should not allow this selfish individual to fool us by placing his interest above the national interest.

Anybody interested in his frivilous statement can come to BOST offices to verify the truth or otherwise.

On the issue of death threat the Managing Director has already instructed his lawyers to take legal action and will soon be communicated to the general public. On this falsehood and malicious publication about the company, the board had referred the matter to its legal community to advise the Board within 24 hours.

According to the Managing Director, the public should continue repose confidence in him because he will never take any decision that will not promote the success of BOST.

Signed: Mr. Alfred Obeng Boateng, MD For BOST.

–

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

The post BOST MD slams Duncan Amoah over ‘baseless’ allegations appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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

[contextly_sidebar id=”rciyctDoPrqXm2mT8kKYWQX2SAsThE6x”]The new module, proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from highly populated areas and commercial centers.

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 a government assessment.

The directive followed the public outcry over the siting of LPG stations in the wake of the explosion at a gas station at Atomic Junction that claimed 7 lives and injured 132.

Following analysis of the module by COPEC, Mr. Amoah noted a number of challenges that could emerge with the programme, including possible arguments over cylinder aesthetics, and the need for about 150 percent more cylinders to be manufactured.

“The plants would have to have their own cylinders that they will refill and send to their outlets so that when I come with my bottle, I quickly pick one,” he noted.

But a key challenge will be the reduction in flexibility for consumers because of the fixed measurement expected to be sold.

“…Now when we move to the re-circulation point, what it would then mean is, if it’s the 14 kg bottle you have, you must necessarily buy 14 kg whether your money is up to or it is not.”

Thus, he said this challenge will be critical to the extent that, “effectively, people will now have to pay for the cylinders they carry. People will now have to either have to own all the sizes [of gas cylinders] so that whatever your money is able to pay for, you go and pick it up.”

“But those who cannot afford, those are the other segment of the population we should think about carefully, and so we have suggested that it should co-exist,” Mr. Amoah said.

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

The post Cylinder recirculation won’t favour the poor – COPEC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the punishment was not detrimental enough, although the idea to enforce the law against them was laudable.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aALVoKRUmw95QZKVk9x7yWXuNPS3316g”]“We believe that indeed for an outlet that has adjusted pumps and is shortchanging Ghanaians for about GH¢400 cedis daily, and making profits of almost GH¢12,000 every month, and so if an outlet has done over 3-4 months of these and you go surcharging them GH¢5,000 and GH¢ 3,000 cedis, it is woefully inadequate to prevent them from coming back,” he said.

Fifty-seven oil marketing companies (OMCs) in the Greater Accra Region were sanctioned by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for engaging in various infractions detrimental to the interest of consumers.

They were fined a total of GH¢261,000 for serving customers with lower volumes of fuel, using non-approved GSA seals and breaking GSA seals meant to stop cheating at the pumps.

45 of the OMCs who served their customers less fuel than the customers purchased were fined GH¢5,000 each.

Ten of them who used pumps not verified by the GSA, were fined GH¢3,000 each while two OMCs who were found to have broken nozzles were fined GH¢3,000 each for that infraction.

According to Mr. Duncan Amoah, the Ghana Standards Authority must extend its checks to other regions of the country, saying the Chamber believes that some OMCs in other regions are also engaged in some infractions.

“We are quite happy that indeed finally the laws in Ghana would be seen to be working. We are happy that the GSA has been able to do this, although we would have wished that it was extended to all parts of the country. We believe that other fuel stations elsewhere in Ghana are engaged in some of these activities and they have to be brought to book,” he said on Eyewitness News.

Duncan Amoah urged the Ghana Standards Authority to step up its surveillance in the country, claiming that some OMCs tamper with their pumps to cheat customers after 5:00pm, when they are certain that officials of the GSA have closed and do not conduct checks on them.

He further called for the prosecution of individual station managers who flout the law to enrich themselves at the expense of customers.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Punishment for cheating fuel stations weak – Duncan Amoah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The employees, in a petition addressed to the Minister of Energy, Chief of Staff, and the Minister of National Security on Thursday argued that calls for the dismissal of their CEO was uncalled for since “the sale of off-spec products is not new to the operations of BOST.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”raWRVj7TySouTyTQ43Be6cCJEQVcJzUV”]They explained 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 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.”

But Mr. Duncan Amoah, in a rebuttal, said their demands will only “deepen controversy surrounding this whole transaction that has led to this brouhaha.”

He believes their demands are not only “ridiculous but indeed unfounded.”

Justifying calls for the BOST Director’s interdiction, Mr. Duncan pointed out that, Ghanaians and the relevant stakeholders have the right to demand for accountability from BOST since they “continue to pay 3 pesewas per litre to keep BOST working.”

“When such incidents happen, in the interest of going forward, we would want to get to the bottom of it to forestall any future re-occurrence,” he added.

We’ve intensified surveillance at fuel stations – OMCs

Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Kwaku Agyemang Duah, has said both the OMCs and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), have intensified surveillance at various fuel stations since the development.

“We noted grave concerns about this issue and we are working very hard with the National Petroleum Authority to make sure we don’t get this product into various stations. The NPA has been making some surveillance and we want to assure our customers that they should not panic.”

“We are coming against the backdrop of when we started talking about illegal fuel; since then, we have been very vigilant in our stations, trying to make sure that we don’t have any unwanted fuel…,” Mr. Duah said

He revealed that the NPA has been able to track about nine out of the ten tracks of contaminated fuel, adding that both the OMCs and NPA “are working to make sure that we track all of them.”

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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According to him, if there was an effective monitoring system, the accident that claimed over nine lives could have been avoided.

Mr Amoah argued that the safety of citizens will be compromised if the state institutions tasked with ensuring routine checks neglect their responsibilities.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr Amoah accused the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of being negligent.

“It is sad, cruel and avoidable. We saw the June 3 disaster and we all said never again would we allow any such catastrophe to befall Ghanaians. Unfortunately, however we seem not to be doing much in that regard althought the state has entrusted those powers and responsibilities to the NPA to ensure that fuel stations have some safety standards minimum that they operate below which they should be closed down.”

“We think if the NPA continues to shirk its responsibilities then the public safety will continue to compromise. We are demanding from the fire service and police service that whatever report indicating what caused this catastrophe leading to loss of life we will need that report immediately and we will haul before court any person found to be negligent of a statutory or personal duty for not having done so. We are will do have some of these things done so that at least it will serve as deterrent to others.”

More than 40 victims of the explosion are currently on admission at various hospitals in Accra including the 37 Military hospital, Police hospital, La general hospital and the Korle-Bu teaching hospital.ed by the incident.

President Mahama has assured that government will take care of the medical bill of those affect

The explosion occurred at about 4pm on Thursday, December 22, between the Labadi Cemetery and the Trade Fair Centre.

It took fire officers more than four hours to control the inferno which had spread to nearby shops and parts of the Trade Fair Centre.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post La gas explosion: Petroleum consumers threaten legal action appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The unnamed film will be in addition to the forthcoming Star Wars trilogy, the first instalment of which will be directed by JJ Abrams.

Writer Gary Whitta, who penned the script for 2010’s The Book of Eli, will write the screenplay for Edwards’ film.

The film is due to be released on 16 December 2016.

In a statement, Edwards said: “Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – join the Rebel Alliance!

“I could not be more excited and honoured to go on this mission.”

Whitta echoed his sentiments and said the “opportunity to contribute” was “literally a dream come true”.

Box office success

Edwards’ recent 3D film Godzilla topped the US box office chart and has taken more than $216m (£128m) worldwide, according to Boxofficemojo.

He also won widespread acclaim for his independent film Monsters, which was released in 2010.

The original Star Wars trilogy – which consists of the original film in 1977, 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi – was always envisaged by creator George Lucas as the central chunk of a nine-movie cycle.

The films followed the fortunes of young hero Luke Skywalker, cocky pilot Han Solo and the feisty Princess Leia as they battled against the Galactic Empire.

A trilogy of Star Wars prequels – 1999’s The Phantom Menace, 2002’s Attack of the Clones and 2005’s Revenge of the Sith – followed.

Disney – which announced it had bought Lucasfilm for $4.05bn (£2.5bn) in 2012 – has previously said Lucas would remain as a creative consultant on the forthcoming trilogy, which begins with Star Wars: Episode VII, due to be released next year.

Source: BBC

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