Revoke permits of alien fuel dealers - Chief

A traditional ruler has suggested to the Minister for Energy to consider revoking the permits of alien fuel dealers in the country.

Nana Osuodumgya Barima Kwame Bonsu, President of the Hwidiem Traditional Council in the Brong-Ahafo Region, said this would help curb hoarding whenever price increases were anticipated.

It would also help in preventing smuggling of fuel to neighbouring countries.

Nana Bonsu, who is a member of the Police Council, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Goaso in the Asunafo District.

He alleged that alien fuel dealers played an active role in the anti social practice, saying, "Ghanaians living and working in neighbouring countries are not given any chance to dabble in sensitive sectors of their economies".

Few Ghanaian fuel dealers operate along the Kumasi-Goaso trunk road but most stations were closed in the week preceding the price increases, the Chief said.

"It is unpatriotic and mere sabotage on the part of the dealers to create artificial shortage by hoarding and encouraging panic buying".

Nana Bonsu advised Ghanaians who collaborated with the aliens to change their attitude and exhibit nationalism.

He described the fuel price increases as inevitable and urged Ghanaians to co-operate with the Government to salvage the ailing economy.