BOST scandal: Movenpiina, Zup Oil unlicensed – NPA

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has indicated that it will pursue two companies, Movenpiina and Zup Oil, who are operating without licence.

According to the NPA, the two entities have violated the NPA Act, Act 691, 2005, hence must be sanctioned.

A statement issued by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NPA and signed by Alhassan Tampuli said: “The NPA has noted that Movenpiina and Zup Oil are not licensed to undertake any commercial activity in the downstream petroleum industry. Their activities, therefore, infringe on section 11 of the National Petroleum Authority Act, Act 691, 2005. Accordingly, the NPA will take appropriate legal action against the said companies.”

This statement follows the Minority in Parliament’s demand for the “immediate interdiction” of the Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), Alfred Obeng Boateng, over a “bizarre” and “dubious” contract awarded to Movenpiina Company Limited to distribute the five million litres of contaminated oil onto the market.

At a press conference, the Minority called for a full-scale investigation by the regulatory authorities into the “corrupt” deal.

The Minority also demanded the “immediate withdrawal of the contaminated product from the market to protect consumers and assurances that this will not recur”.

The Minority also said the money lost by the state due to the saga, which it estimated to be GHS14.25million, must be retrieved by “surcharging the offending officials at BOST in line with the recent Supreme Court decision”.