NPA boss bemoans increasing illicit fuel trade at Aflao border
Illicit fuel trade activities at Ghana’s border with Togo has alarmed the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority Dr Mustapha Abdul Hamid as he bemoaned it was on the high.
He revealed that the NPA has not authorized any importer to supply fuel through the Aflao border and called on the officers to see to it that the menace is curbed.
His comments come on the back of a tour he made with the management of the authority to familiarize themselves with the issues regarding fuel trade going on at the border.
According to the NPA boss, this menace denies the government the required revenue on the fuel trade “The NPA is an agency responsible for monitoring downstream petroleum industry, and that combating fuel activities is central to what the Authority does” he emphasized.
He also revealed that Ghana is the only country on the West African Coast that has the highest quality of fuel, stressing the need to maintain such a standard. He urged stakeholders involved to make sure that these activities are curbed to the barest minimum.
Chairman of the Aflao Border Security Committee, Majeed Amandi, in response to the NPA boss also cited the unapproved routes on the Ghana-Togo borders as the hotbed for such criminal activities including fuel smuggling.
Mr Amandi who is also Assistant Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority – Aflao Collection, revealed that the service is collaborating with other security agencies as well as the NPA to curb this menace, by intensifying patrols and enhancing efforts to combat the long-standing problem.
The Assistant Commissioner findings on their activities pointed to the fact that the criminals operate at midnight to avoid detection. He described those into it as daring because they always found their way into the country’s borders and offload unwholesome petroleum products into the Ghanaian market. He indicated that this is also a result of the unavailability of special boats for patrols on the seas at night.
To tackle the menace the Chairman noted that, they were in need of working tools to combat the illicit trade. The commander also urged members of the border security committee and management to stay alert on such illegal activities and assured that Customs would collaborate with the agencies to ensure the menace is dealt with, and hand over the criminals to the appropriate authorities.
The Volta Regional Manager of the NPA, Mr Rasheed Dauda, also appreciated the collaboration with the security agencies at the border and pledged to work closely with them to apprehend the criminals.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
