NPC goes wild on persons hoarding premix fuel

Any landing beach committee caught hoarding and engaging in premix fuel racketeering would be dissolved and leadership prosecuted, the National Premix Committee has warned.

National Chairman of the Premix Committee Mr. Nii Lante Bannerman told 3news.com’s Central Regional correspondent Kwame Kakraba it is illegal to sell the fuel to persons who are not fishermen to be resold later at a higher price.

His comment follows last Friday’s premix fuel explosion at Kormantse in the Central Religion in which four people lost their lives. Three others were seriously injured. One Nana Kojo,34, who died in the incident was said to have hoarded premix fuel which was stored near a cocking area.

Mr. Bannerman said his outfit is working with the national security to arrest persons illegally dealing in premix fuel in the various beach communities.

“This time round we won’t condone such behavior, whoever would be caught would be handed over to the law enforcement agency for the law to take its cause.”

Chairman of the National Premix Committee on Monday visited the scene of the accident which occurred on May 4.

Fortunately, the raging fire was contained by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, supported by residents, who quickly moved to the scene to stop it from spreading and causing further damage.

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Ato Cudjoe who was also in the community to sympathize with them donated GH¢ 40,000 to the bereaved families and pledged support to those on admission at the hospital.

He gave a stern warning to members of landing beaches committees to stop selling premix fuel to non-members who making business out of the product.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Mfantseman constituency Ekow Kwansah Hayford assured residents that a number of development projects designed to enhance the fishing industry would soon be rolled out.

He noted that the Kormantse community center would be completed by the end of 2019 to honour former Member of Parliament for Mfantseman constituency Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng.