Upper East bans fuel sale to middlemen

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr David Osei-Wusu has directed that henceforth no fuel dealers in the region should sell petroleum products in jerricans and other containers to middlemen who re-sell in the villages.

Additionally, fuel dealers in the region are only to supply foreign registered vehicles that enter the region just sufficient fuel that can take them to their destinations.

The Regional Minister gave the directive at a meeting held with the dealers at Bolgatanga on Tuesday to discuss reports of alleged hoarding and smuggling of petroleum products by some of the dealers to neighbouring countries.

He said the country presently is in a crisis situation as far as the petroleum products are concerned and as a result there has been a cut in the supply of fuel to dealers throughout the country.

He told the dealers that the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) would mount checkpoints along the country’s borders in the region to prevent the smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

Mr. Osei-Wusu told the dealers that their trade is so vital to the development of the region that he would not like them to cause any public outcry through their activities.

He therefore urged them to endeavour to do genuine business in the interest of the nation and themselves.

The Regional Minister advised the dealers to bring forward problems they think hinder the smooth operation of their businesses “ so that together we can find solutions to them”.

The dealers mentioned very low commission, high interest rates and irregular supply of fuel as some of the problems facing them.

In a related development the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) has stated that there has not been any increase in the prices of petroleum products.

The acting General Manager of BOST, Dr. Kwabena Donkor said this in reaction to rumours that there has been an upward adjustment in the prices of petroleum products.

He said as far as he was aware there has been no increase in prices.