Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid
THE NATIONAL Petroleum Authority (NPA) says it is collaborating with the various security agencies to help check fuel smuggling.
According to the NPA, fuel smuggling is an economic sabotage and therefore it will go all lengths to fight it at the country’s borders and also in the Western Region.
Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, revealed this during a media interaction in Takoradi as part of his familiarisation tour in the Western Region.
He visited the commanders of the various security agencies in the region to commend them for their efforts and to map out new strategies to help curb the menace.
He said the petroleum industry was prone to a lot of smuggling particularly at the port cities.
“We also know that the West Africa sub-region has become notorious for piracy and often times, people find a way of siphoning pirated fuel and bring them through our sea borders,” he noted.
He said “By law, NPA has to guarantee the quality of every petroleum product that enters the country. So to that extent, these illegalities are matters that concern NPA.”
He explained that the NPA was structured and composed of directorates including Quality Assurance Directorate, among others.
“This will also ensure that the products do not become injurious to machines and car engines,” he stressed.
As part of the visit, the NPA boss and his entourage visited the Ghana Gas Company and Quantum Terminal at Atuabo in the Ellembelle District where the loading and transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) takes place.
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi