General News of Saturday, 16 May 2009

Source: Daily Guide

Ministers brother Appointed NPA Boss

Alex Mould, the newly appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) insists he is occupying his position on merit.

He emphatically stated that he wielded the expertise and all the requisite requirements needed from a person to occupy the sensitive and revered position.

The younger brother of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, described as a hoax, outrageous media reports that his sister's influence won him his position.

"My sister has nothing to do with my appointment as the Acting CEO of the, NPA," he noted, urging those propagating the falsehood to immediately desist from doing so.

In a chat with a section of the media in Kumasi on Thursday, Mr. Mould recounted his involvement with the NPA which dates back to the -middle of the 1980's.

The Acting NPA CEO was in Kumasi to meet stakeholders and regional representatives in the oil marketing companies.

The Chemical Engineer graduate said he was a member of the government's transitional team on energy, insisting that he perfectly deserves his current position.

Not perturbed about: the falsehood being peddled in the media about him, Mr. Mould noted that he was appointed by government on merit, stating "I am ready to serve my country too".

Touching on the NPA, the former Investment Banker promised to work assiduously to ensure that the NPA's activities impacted positively on the citizenry. Mr. Mould said the NPA was formed via the act of parliament, noting that his outfit is an independent body whose activities include the pricing of oil in the country.

He vowed to implement effective mechanisms to avert situations whereby oil is smuggled from the country to the neighbouring sister countries in the sub region where the commodity is a bit expensive as compared to that of Ghana.

In line with this, Mr. Mould assured to meet the security agencies including the army, "border guards, among others soon so that together, they can strategise on what should be done to ensure this.

The NPA boss during the visit toured- the NPA Zonal Office and as well visited some selected Goil, Shell and Total outlets in the city to have a feel of how they were faring.