2 Fuel Stations Closed Down

Two fuel filling stations in Accra have been closed down for altering their pumps to cheat customers.

The two, Achimota Goil Filling Station and Sonnidom Filling Station, both at Achimota, were closed down when officials of the Energy Commission in a surprise check caught attendants of the stations selling 4.2 litres to customers instead of 4.5 litres.

It was also established that the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) calibration stickers on the pumps have expired since January 3, 2003, indicating that since that time, the machines have not been checked by the board.

Surprisingly, while Sonnidom has no operating licence to sell fuel, the Goil Station. Its pumps have red GSB stickers on them indicating that they should not be used. Although the machine read 4.5 litres for ?20,000, it, however, indicated 4.3 litres when poured into the standard measuring container by the Energy Commission. The operation followed reports which alleged that some officials of the GSB have colluded with some fuel stations to adjust their pumps to deliver less than the 4.5 litres to the motoring public.

The team, which included police officers and journalists, was led by Mrs Irene Nyantakyi and Mr Frank Arthur, Public Affairs Manager and Senior Programme Officer respectively, of the commission. They inspected the Airport Shell Filling Station, Legon Unipetrol and Unity Oil Company Limited Head Office Filling Station at Ofankor, all of which were found to be selling the correct quantity of fuel.

At the Legon Unipetrol Station, the second place of visit, a customer who got wind of the operations hinted the team that Achimota Goil Filling Station had been selling less than 4.5 litres and that anytime he bought fuel from them, the gauge indicated less than the standard amount.

True to the tip-off by the people, when the teams got there while a lot of motorists were buying fuel, it became clear that the filling station had been cheating motorists.

The situation which attracted a lot of people also infuriated some of the motorists who called for the prosecution of such unscrupulous fuel dealers as well as officials of the GSB who have through their actions and inactions cheated car owners.

Briefing newsmen before the action, Mrs Nyantakyi said the commission decided to take the action due to the disturbing complaints about the alleged practices by the filling stations in collaboration with GSB officials.

She said although it is the responsibility of the GSB to be doing such periodic checks it decided to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.

She wondered why GSB has not checked the calibrated pumps although they have expired since January 3, 2003.

Mrs Nyantakyi Owusu said the exercise is nationwide and appealed to all motorists and the general public who suspect any fishy deal to report to the commission for necessary action.

She hinted that the proprietors of the stations which have been closed down will be investigated and prosecuted.