NPA boss vows to flush out illegal fuel traders

The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, says his outfit will not spare groups or individuals engaging in illegal fuel trade.

He said the authority would be toughen its mandate to ensure that the transportation and sale of fuel were carried out lawfully.

Speaking at a meeting with the Bono Regional Security Council (REGSEC) during his familiarisation tour in the region, the NPA boss enumerated fuel smuggling, selling of adulterated fuels, operating with expired licence, and operating without proper safety standards as some of the illegal fuel trading practices in the system.

Appeal

Mr Tameklo urged regional ministers across the country to abstain from intervening on behalf of unscrupulous fuel traders.

He stated that there was the tendency for people to hide behind political parties to try and induce officials of the NPA to engage in illegal activities, saying such a practice would not be countenanced.

“We must support President Mahama’s agenda of resetting the economy for growth and prosperity for all.

He quipped: “If you plead on behalf of these criminals who are not playing by the rules at the expense of the reset agenda, who will you call when you buy bad fuel to fill your car?”

The NPA Chief Executive indicated that collaborative efforts by the NPA, National Security and other state agencies had helped to drastically reduce the menace of supply leakages such as export dumping in the country.

REGSEC assurance

The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboah, assured the NPA of the support of the regional security council.

“I assure you of the Bono REGSEC’s support that we are here to serve, and we can have a good collaboration with NPA to curb the occurrence of such illegalities,” the Bono Regional Minister said.

The meeting with the Bono Regional Security Council was part of a three-day tour by the Chief Executive of NPA to the Bono and Ashanti regions to familiarise himself with some petroleum installations.

The Chief Executive and management of the authority made the first stop at the Bono Regional Coordinating Council last Wednesday, and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Sunyani to seek his support in dealing with fuel supply and export challenges in the region.