Tampuli's GHS1.5m Villagio rent claim 'malicious, wicked' – NPA

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has denied media reports that its CEO Hassan Tampuli paid himself GHS1.5 million for rent at Villagio

“The allegation is scandalous, malicious and wicked lies calculated at tarnishing the hard-won reputation and uncommon integrity of the Chief Executive, which is built on truth”, the NPA said in a statement on Tuesday, 4 September.

The NPA added: “We state without any equivocation that on no occasion has the Chief Executive been a recipient of any rent advance or paid any amount of money as rent advance”.

The New Vanguard and www.thenewstateman.com had reported that Mr Tampuli was being paid a monthly rent of US$27,000 by the NPA but the statement denied it.

The NPA, however, stated that: “As a result of the Board’s decision to provide accommodation for the official use of the Chief Executive, accommodation allowance payable to the Chief Executive as part of his condition of service, was immediately discontinued. This has resulted in a diminution of income to the Chief Executive.”

The statement gave the two media houses a 7-day deadline to retract the story and apologise for it.

The same statement also debunked claims that Mr Tampuli is a vindictive CEO, saying there is “perfect industrial harmony” at the NPA, adding that the allegations are being thrown out there “to frustrate him from dealing ruthlessly with illegal fuel smuggling syndicates will not succeed”.

“We wish to state emphatically that the Chief Executive remains resolute in pursuit of saboteurs who remain restless and disturbed by his unrelenting efforts to deal with criminality in the petroleum downstream sector.”