The Association of LPG Marketers has stated that it will consider taking legal action if the government fails to respond to concerns it has raised about the cylinder recirculation policy by Wednesday.<\/p>\n
President Akufo-Addo in October directed the implementation of the policy, following the gas explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic junction.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
[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.<\/p>\n
But the Association said Boakye Agyarko has, \u00a0so far, failed to respond to their queries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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, \u00a0Gabriel Kumi said on Eyewitness News.<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are giving ourselves till Wednesday next week. If we don\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.”<\/p>\n LPG marketers threaten earlier suit\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The leadership of the LPG Marketing Companies Association had earlier indicated that its members were agitated over cabinet\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The leadership had indicated that the directive had whipped up public sentiment against their members and increased their risk of doing business.<\/p>\n Following the Atomic Junction Gas explosion, President Akufo-Addo, and his Cabinet directed the review of all existing and newly awarded licenses for operators.<\/p>\n But the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Kwame Owiredu, told Citi News<\/strong>\u00a0at the time that their members were contemplating legal action among other options, against the directive.<\/p>\n \u201cAs 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\u2019t licence somebody and then come back and designate them as high risk or low risk. They are really agitating\u2026 By the close of the week , we will issue a press statement and let Ghanaians know what we intend to do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘Cylinder recirculation won\u2019t favour the poor’<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Chamber\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Marian Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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