President Akufo-Addo in October directed the implementation of the policy, following the gas explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic junction.

However, the LPG Marketers Association and the Association of Gas Tankers Drivers, kicked against the policy, citing potential job losses to members of their respective unions and a number of other challenges.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VtPSR8ttTDauGojoHq9hkMUt8AjH9OXm”]They have since written several letters to the Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko in a bid to have their grievances addressed.

But the Association said Boakye Agyarko has,  so far, failed to respond to their queries.

“We have been writing several letters to both the Ministry and the NPA but none of these letters have been responded to,” the Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketing Companies Association,  Gabriel Kumi said on Eyewitness News.

Mr. Kumi said they will have no choice than to use all constitutional and legal means if they do not get a response from the Minister by December 13.

“We are giving ourselves till Wednesday next week. If we don’t hear anything from the Minister, we have no option than to adopt all constitutional and legal means to ensure that our rights are protected. We have been talking to our lawyers, we are being advised by our lawyers. We don’t want to jump the gun. After Wednesday, we are going to have a meeting with our lawyers. They will advise us on the way forward.”

LPG marketers threaten earlier suit 

The leadership of the LPG Marketing Companies Association had earlier indicated that its members were agitated over cabinet’s decision directing the implementation of the gas cylinder re-circulation policy within a year; and the suspension of construction work on newly built fuel stations.

The leadership had indicated that the directive had whipped up public sentiment against their members and increased their risk of doing business.

Following the Atomic Junction Gas explosion, President Akufo-Addo, and his Cabinet directed the review of all existing and newly awarded licenses for operators.

But the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Kwame Owiredu, told Citi News at the time that their members were contemplating legal action among other options, against the directive.

“As to the constitutionality of the fiat issued by Cabinet, our members are agitating. Aside the suit that they are contemplating, some of them are actually saying that if the NPA is painting them as if their operations are death traps; they are explosions in waiting, they might as well stop operating because you can’t licence somebody and then come back and designate them as high risk or low risk. They are really agitating… By the close of the week , we will issue a press statement and let Ghanaians know what we intend to do.”

‘Cylinder recirculation won’t favour the poor’

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/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post LPG Marketers threaten suit over cylinder re-circulation policy appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The move according to the businesses, is to ensure uninterrupted supply of liquefied petroleum gas.

The decision was arrived at after an emergency meeting between OMCs, Ghana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Operators, and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies on Thursday, October 19, 2017.

LPG marketers had closed their premises to the public for the past two days, citing maintenance works at the outlets to ensure compliance and safety among the members.

The exercise has been met with stiff opposition from the public.

Some have argued that the marketers were using the move to protest recent cabinet directives to clamp down on non-complying gas and petrol/diesel stations.

The statement signed by the CEO of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Kwaku Agyemang- Duah, however expressed the groups’ disapproval of the regulators’ mode of discharging their statutory responsibilities which they say has resulted in unyielding distress.

Read full statement below

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post LPG marketers backdown on closure of outlets appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Kumi alleged that, some state officials, including assembly members, have been extorting money from LPG Marketers across the country, since the deadly Atomic Gas explosion, and the subsequent directives from government to sanitize the industry.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ofpQjO4eyrLoLql8JMLORGviISP0k0u8″]This revelation comes a day after the Association suspended the sale of LPG products across the country, with the excuse that they are carrying out maintenance works on their facilities.

However, many have said the shutdown is a deliberate move to frustrate the supply of gas, considering that the LPG Marketers have vehemently kicked against Government’s approach towards ensuring safety in the sector following the Atomic Junction explosion.

Mr. Kumi indicated that, some stations are even facing a threat of closure by the assembly members who are supposedly extorting money from them.

“We have assembly men going round our stations that they want to close it down. There is a whole extortion business going on by this team.”

The Association’s members, some of who shutdown from Wednesday, October 19, have not indicated when it will allow members resume regular operations.

The Association had  indicated that, the closure was to allow for a safety audit.

Mr. Kumi has however clarified that, the move is primarily a response to government’s decision to close down some high risk fuel stations.

“This is as a result of the measures being taken by the authorities to close down our stations…We have identified what the problems are; so let’s deal with the problems, but we have the authorities going round, closing down our stations, extorting monies from our members, and we feel that this is a very unfair treatment. We are just reacting to what the authorities are doing…”

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

The post State officials are extorting money from us – LPG Marketers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the leadership, the directive has whipped up public sentiment against their members and increased their risk of doing business.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BseSVuGhImaQgUA2RqE2lfwyX8vils5L”]Following last week’s Atomic Junction Gas explosion, President Akufo Addo, and his Cabinet directed the review of all existing and newly awarded licenses for operators, among others.

But the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Kwame Owiredu, told Citi News their members are contemplating legal action among other options, against the directive.

“As to the constitutionality of the fiat issued by Cabinet, our members are agitating. Aside the suit that they are contemplating, some of them are actually saying that if the NPA is painting them as if their operations are death traps; they are explosions in waiting, they might as well stop operating because you can’t licence somebody and then come back and designate them as high risk or low risk. They are really agitating… By the close of the week , we will issue a press statement and let Ghanaians know what we intend to do.”

Cylinder Re-circulation Module will collapse our businesses – LPG marketers

This threat 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.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post LPG marketers threaten suit over cylinder re-circulation policy appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the PURC on Wednesday as part of its contingency measures to ensure reliable supply of Electricity during the World Cup season.

The country has been facing major energy crises for some time now.

The energy crises situation has intensified following the sudden cut in power generation by the  Bui Power Authority (BPA).

PURC has however given the assurance that Ghanaians will enjoy consistent power supply during the World Cup season.

Below is a full statement issued by the PURC

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

ELECTRICTY CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR 2014 WORLD CUP

In a meeting held between the PURC and the Electricity Utility Service Providers it was agreed that certain contingency measures be put in place to ensure reliable supply of Electricity during the World Cup Season.

It was agreed that all available generating units should be on stream during the tournament, maintenance personnel shall be posted to man critical substations and installations during the match periods to ensure expeditious restoration of electricity in the unlikely event of an unplanned outage or an emergency. In addition all key personnel would be put on standby alert during the period.

The PURC has also asked the ECG/NEDco to furnish the public of all its Fault reporting lines to enable consumers call them whenever there are faults in the system.

Also as part of the discussions it was agreed that Ghana will get 50megawatts extra Electricity from La Cote D’Ivoire during the times Ghana would be playing since our matches do not run concurrently. Arrangements are also being made with VALCO to reduce energy consumption during periods when Ghana would be playing.

The Commission is also appealing to the Public to conserve energy during the  period  by putting off high consuming appliances like deep Freezers and Air Conditioners etc.

The PURC has asked the Utility Service Providers to reschedule all other maintenance activities in the National Inter Connection Transmission System and also at the Distribution end of the System with the exception of Emergency Works.

It should be noted that these plans are put in place for consumers to watch uninterruptible football matches during the World Cup Tournament, but within these arrangements the Load shedding Schedule though varied still exists.

The PURC would be critically monitoring the situation during the World Cup Season to ensure that all these plans as discussed are put in place to bring about a level of Electricity supply reliability during the World Cup Tournament

Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah

Director, Public Relations & External Affairs

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ivory Coast to supply energy to Ghana during World Cup appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) mandated a commissioner of the Commission, David Ametepe to represent the Commission as witness of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff, lawyer George Tetteh Wayo in his examination of the PURC sought to explain the effects of the pull out by the TUC.

The TUC last year suspended their membership on the board following the upward adjustment of tariffs.

The FGJ is therefore praying the court to order the Union to restore its membership on the board of the PURC.

In an interview with Citi News, the Director of Communications for the Forum, Robert Afulimi said though TUC is now being represented on the board, he seeks to make the court declare TUC’s action as unconstitutional “so that no one will repeat the this same action some time to come”

The presiding judge adjourned the case to June 5, 2014 where the examination of the second witness of the plaintiff will be continued.

By: Magdalene Larnyoh/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Court adjourns TUC, PURC case to June 5 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.