We're not interested in collapsing your businesses - NPA replies GLiPGOA

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has rejected claims by members of Ghana LPG Operators Association (GLiPGOA) that the recent closure of Goby Gas Station and T-Tekpor Gas Filling Stations at Afariwa Junction in the Ashaiman Municipality is a deliberate attempt to sabotage and collapse their businesses.

The NPA in December last year ordered management T-Tekpor Gas filling station to shut down the facility following recommendations by a Multi Stakeholder Committee(MSC) which was put together to investigate into a petition against the sitting of the facility by Charles Kissi, Assemblyman of the area.

The Committee recommended that the NPA closes down the facility because it poses high risk to the two adjoining schools-Tema International School and Ridge School, which has a population of 700 children.

Management of the facility who were not happy about the decision therefore dragged NPA to an Accra High presided over by Justice Ackaah T. Boafo

However, addressing a press conference in Tema on Wednesday, 16 January, 2019, President of Ghana LPG Operators Association (GLiPGOA) Torgbe Adaku V, accused NPA of deliberately collapsing businesses owed by their members to pave way for their cronies to build gas plant under the cylinder recirculation model.

“The National Petroleum Authority's apparent agenda to consciously sabotage and collapse our businesses for the giant multinational companies and themselves and their cronies to set up liquefied petroleum gas bottling plants across the country has been activated in full force.

“We have noted with deep concern what appears to be an emerging pattern of closing down stations on the mere whimsies and caprices of so called 'petitioners' whose chief complaint has been that gas stations have been sited close to their facilities whether schools or homes contrary to the grounds on which an applicant may be denied a license under the NPA Act," Torgbe Adaku V stated.

But responding to the claims by GLiPGOA, the NPA in a statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Department stated that "the NPA wishes to categorically deny the allegations made by Torgbe Adaku V and members of GLiPGOA."

"The allegations are vile, defamatory, threatening and a deliberate attempt to sacrifice public safety for personal financial gains," the statement added.

According to the NPA, as a regulator it operates within the law and is mandated to ensure that operations in the sector are conducted in a safe and standardized manner, adding that stations in breach of safety standards will be sanctioned after due process to ensure public safety.

The statement said, the NPA is aware of the attempts by GLiPGOA to undermine the entire National LPG Policy, which will not only create additional jobs but increase public safety in the downstream sector.

The authority reiterated its commitment to working with players in the industry to ensure the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation policy as directed by the Government.

"We shall however not give in to threats from any individual or bodies seeking to undermine our work," it concluded.