Premix scandal worst in history - Fishers Council

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Nii Abeo Kyerekwandah, Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, has observed that the recent sandal that has plagued the transportation of premix fuel to the fishing communities, is the worst ever in the history of Ghana.

According to him, although there have been diversion of premix fuel in the past, the magnitude of the diversions this year is mindboggling and shocking.

It recently emerged that about 200 trucks loaded with premix fuel were diverted.

According to reports, in January 2017 about 148,000 litres of premix were diverted. In February, 54,000 liters; April, 297,000 litres; May 364,000 litres; June, 270,000; July, 459,000 litres; August, 648,000 litres and October, 1,107,000 litres.

Speaking on this development in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Thursday, 30 November, Nii Kyerekwandah called for immediate investigations to be conducted into the circumstances that led to the diversions.

“This is the worst scandal ever to hit premix fuel [distribution] for the past 10 years,” he said.

He added: “An immediate step or investigation will need to be conducted into the matter in order to deal with the situation.”

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers-Ghana (COPEC-GH) has charged the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to introduce stiffer punishment for culprits who divert premix fuel.