Bashiru Natogma
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in collaboration with security agencies has mapped out plans to clampdown on fuel smuggling activities in border towns along the Upper East Region.
At a media engagement held over the weekend in Bolgatanga, the NPA Upper East Regional Manager, Bashiru Natogma, said the initiative had improved the quality of fuel supply in the region.
Fuel smuggling has been one of the obstacles in the petroleum downstream sector where both bulk distribution companies and consumers suffer in terms of pricing and demands.
The Upper East Region, which is bordered by these landlocked countries, has been the target of fuel smugglers using the numerous unapproved routes.
Chief Executive of NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, initiated the measures to curb the pilfering.
Mr. Natogma said tracking systems had been installed on vehicles carrying petroleum products to the BDCs as well as the points of discharge.
He said incentives had also been introduced to the foreign petroleum transporters who send fuel to neighbouring Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali and Niger for easy take off of the products to discourage middlemen from smuggling the product.
Mr. Natogma stressed that a rapid response mechanism had also been adopted to eradicate the menace.
“We are therefore sending a strong warning to all identified and those yet to be identified in the fuel smuggling business to stop or face the law,” Mr. Natogma cautioned.
Pindaa community in the Kassena Nankana Municipality, Nakolo in the Kassena Nankana West District, Kulungugu in the Pusiga District, Nayagnia in the Kassena Nankana Municipality, Bongo Soe in the Bongo District among others were included in the exercises.
Head of Planning, NPA, Dominic Aboagye, gave the assurance that the authority would ensure uninterrupted supply of quality petroleum products to Ghanaians and its clients in Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali and Niger.
A Business Desk Report