Rot at BOST: Deputy Minister hints of possible prosecution

The Deputy Minister for Energy in-charge of Petroleum, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has hinted of a possible prosecution of some persons whose actions and decisions resulted in serious financial breaches at the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST).

According to him, following the contaminated fuel saga at BOST; two committees were set up explaining that the first one which was a Ministerial Committee was to look into the contaminated fuel issue, while the other one which was set up by President Akufo-Addo was tasked to look into the financial aspect of BOST operations.

Dr Amin Adam who said the recommendations in the two reports are being implemented, however, noted that the Presidential Committee made serious findings about some transactions which occurred during the previous regime.

“The financial issues in BOST were very serious including transactions that are being investigated today for possible prosecution.

"Some of the transactions were done between BOST and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). You will remember that we had one managing director for the two companies and it was during that time such questionable transactions took place,” Dr Mohammed Amin revealed this at a Meet The Press series in Accra Tuesday.

He however could not give details of the ongoing investigations.

It would be recalled that sometimes last year Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) was on the heels of Kingsley Kwame Awuah-Darko, the immediate-past Managing Director (MD) of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited, over some alleged payments and transactions that occurred during his tenure.

In one instance, he allegedly transferred more than GHC40m into an account named "Chief of Staff’s Sundry Account" which the BOST boss regularly lodged money into and reportedly cashed by the Office of the Chief of Staff under President John Mahama.

The transactions were carried out under dubious circumstances.

According to letters allegedly signed by Mr Awuah-Darko, the payments were "monies accrued from the security fees taken from Bulk Oil Distribution Companies(BDCs) invoices to effect payments on the cost of petroleum products supplied by Goil."