Mills' Man In Premix Diversion

Two persons were on Thursday arrested by the Elmina Police in the Central Region for their alleged involvement in the diversion of premix fuel in the area.

The two, according to Daily Guide newspaper sources, mentioned the name of a National Premix Committee Member, Kobina Badu popularly known as Maanoma, as the brain behind the act.

Maanoma, who was rewarded by President Atta Mills with the position, is a well-known NDC man who once described former President John Agyekum Kufour as a leader who did not have the welfare of fishermen at heart during a People's Assembly held at Sekondi about a year ago.

"Mr Kufour, do you think the sea is like a lorry park which will need renovation when it is damaged?" he questioned the former President at the People's Assembly in Sekondi.

Information gathered by the paper indicated that Maanoma usually collects four drums of premix fuel from all the premix outlets from every consignment they receive in the region and sells it at GH¢45.00 per gallon instead of GH¢26.00 due to the insufficient premix fuel being distributed under the NDC Government.

The source said he collects the four drums with the explanation that it is a protocol decision and that everybody must oblige and later sends the premix fuel to the Marine Park at Elmina to sell.

Sources said luck eluded him when a taxi driver operating from Bronyibema to Elmina and another guy he had sent to collect the premix from Ampanyin Landing Beach Committee were arrested at Elmina Marine Park with the booty.

Daily Guide learnt that after interrogation, the two mentioned Maanoma as the brain behind the diversion of the fuel. They were detained at the police station and later released upon instruction from the Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, Daily Guide learnt.

According to the information, the Regional Minister said it will be a dent on the Mills Administration if the incident gets to the public, thereby ordering the police not to release any information to the press. Due this 'order from above' the Elmina police are now refusing to open up to the press.

Meanwhile, a well-known NDC man who was alleged to have lodged the complaint at the Elmina Police station, a certain Texas, also refused to comment on the issue when contacted. Fishermen in Elmina are now calling for the head of Maanoma who is now at large. All efforts to speak to Maanoma and the Regional Minister proved futile as their phones were off.

Further investigations conducted by Daily Guide revealed that the premix committee members in Cape Coast normally take two drums of the premix fuel from every consignment and later sell the rest to the fishermen, even if it is not sufficient.