Hassan Tampuli and Rear Admiral Seth Amoama in a handshake
Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli, says his outfit is committed to working with the various security agencies to that ensure criminal gangs operating in the petroleum sector, whose activities negatively impact on revenue to the country, are dealt with.
More than $200 million in annual tax revenue meant for the state were lost as a result of nefarious activities of service providers of the petroleum sector.
Mr. Tampuli, however, disclosed that steps were taken to address the anomaly, resulting in the curbing of over 90 percent of illegal diversion of fuel from illegal fuel trading activities.
“What this means is that significant savings have been made following the significant reduction in volumes of exported products that would have been diverted invariably for personal gains at the expense of the state,” he said.
Mr. Tampuli said stringent measures are still being made to ensure the system is cleansed.
Speaking in a meeting with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, who paid a courtesy call on him at his office, Mr. Tampuli said the NPA is encouraged by the increasing support his outfit has enjoyed from the Navy, and said such relationship is key to dealing with the illegal fuel smuggling menace, which remains a threat to revenue mobilization by the state.
“We are forced to work together because we have a common challenge to deal with, so we need to collaborate and coordinate to be able to achieve the results for our Mother Ghana,” he said.
“The activities that have been going on in our territorial waters make it more imperative that we work together especially in relation to the smuggling of petroleum products (bunkering).
Mr. Tampuli said the NPA would fall on the expertise of the Navy in this regard and would do everything within their power to support them achieve the results for the state.
Though the existing efforts are yielding results, Mr. Tampuli said they are still confronted by the activities of the smugglers who operate in landing beaches such as those around Prampram, Adwoa Beach in the Eastern Region and close to the Aflao Border.
But he was confident their operations would be dealt with.
He gave assurance that the Navy would flush out rogue elements in the industry.
On his part, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, reiterated the commitment of NPA to confronting the smugglers.
He said the visit to the NPA, the first of its kind by one of the country’s first sitting security commander, would continue at various levels.
“We are particularly worried about the revenue losses and the contaminated products because they (smuggling activities) put all of us at risk.”
Rear Admiral Seth Amoama was accompanied by Commodore Issah Yakub and Commodre Dr. Addison.