<<Print>>

Yesterday, we expressed concern over corrupt practices that have characterised the distribution of premix fuel in the country. We were particularly surprised that despite all the security measures put in place, some unscrupulous people are still diverting the commodity to places where they were not intended for. Our position was premised on the report that the Abeka Shell filing station in Accra was selling premix fuel to unsuspecting motorists, as petrol/premium. The sale of the product at such an unauthorised place, apart from denying fishermen access to premix fuel for their fishing activities, could also cause damage to the vehicle engines of the several unsuspecting drivers who might have patronised the product. Criminals can best be described as experts in their own field, therefore, it is the duty of the government, or the relevant state agencies, to be a step ahead of them. The United States of America, after the September 11 attacks, has put stringent measures in place to combat the activities of potential terrorists. The Chronicle is, therefore, urging the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and other regulators in the industry, to put rigorous measures in place to ensure that the Abeka Shell filling station episode does not occur again. It will be dangerous and an even more serious security threat to this country if the NPA and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) assume that because the activities of the Abeka Shell filing station had been exposed, others would be scared from committing the same crime. Since time immemorial, several people have been arrested and jailed long imprisonment terms for dealing in illicit drugs, but that has not stopped the drug peddlers from still indulging in the trade. Whilst the NPA and security agencies ponder over what next step they should take, The Chronicle wishes to make a few suggestions. First among these suggestions, is the introduction of transparent delivery hoses connected to the fuel pumps at all the filing stations in the country. It is our contention that if the pipes, through which the fuel flows from the fuel pumps into customer�s vehicles, are made transparent, it would be very difficult to sell premix fuel as petrol to unsuspecting buyers. This is because the buyer will be able to monitor the product as it flows through the pipes into his or her vehicle. We further suggest that both the Ghana Standards Board and other security agencies be strengthened in terms of logistics, to enable them make regular unannounced visits to filling stations to check on the quality of the product they are selling to the public. The Chronicle thinks that if these suggestions are taken into consideration, it will help to completely eliminate the selling of the premix fuel as premium petrol to the public. At the moment, there is no way a buyer can detect the sort of petrol being pumped into his or her car, because the pipes are not transparent. We would also want to know what happened to the suggestion about introducing tracking devices to monitor the movement of the pre-mix branded tankers.