CEO of National Petroleum Authority, Hassan Tampuli
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli has given a hint that sanctions are being reviewed on fuel marking to ensure that they were equal to the illegal gains made by some unscrupulous persons in the industry.
His comments were in response to claims made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors Senyo K. Hosi that little is being done to deal with deviants in the oil sector.
According to him, much is being done to punish perpetrators of smuggling when they are found citing instances where the NPA in collaboration with port authorities was able the stem the practice of vessels coming into the country and mischaracterize them sludge.
On export dumping, he disclosed it was possible in the past for vessels to dump products in Ghana by obtaining a foreign number plates for BRV trucks, transfer the products to another truck and move them to local stations.
The NPA he revealed, had tracked such illegalities, impounded trucks and products which they had sold to Goil to be auctioned insisting action is being taken.
Senyo Hosi had claimed National Petroleum Authority has a list of all the thieves and institutions who have one way or the other flouted directives but no action has been taken, it was amazing that the CEO of NPA could not debunk the allegation.
Mr. Hosi reiterated that he has led a crew to a place where dealers mix fuel with contaminated substances, also where fuel is smuggled to other neighboring countries but authorities are silence on them.
He proposed that issues pertaining revenue leakages and fuel smuggling need to be discussed by a nonpartisan and independent body but not government and leaders of the oil institutions because they have all the necessary information to prosecute but have refused.
But Hassan Tampuli who disagreed stated that much is being done to deal with such practices head on and that some successes have been chalked.
