Fuel smuggling at Elubo increases

Smuggling of the fuel along the Ghana –Coted’Ivoire border is affecting the transport and the haulage industry at the Elubo boarder, and also ripping Ghana of the needed revenue for development.

Traders, immigration and customs officers, and officials of other security agencies, have expressed serious concern about the trend, describing it as national canker and sabotage to the welfare of the people and growth of the economy.

They have, therefore, called on the government to beef up security along the Ghana Cote’dIvoire to arrest saboteurs, to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Ghanaian Times visit to the Elubo border and its environs revealed that a majority of articulated trunk had extra tank compartment ,apart from the original manufactures tanks, which could contain about five drums, each containing 48 gallons with the excuse that, it was reserve for the trip to Cote d’ Ivoire.

But, it was alleged that, that as soon as the drivers and association got to Cote d’Ivoire, they sold the product at price higher than that of Ghana, which was subsided .

At a stakeholders forum on ‘Checking Smuggling as a tool for Tax Compliance at Elubo on Thursday, organised by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) participant gave varying accounts of fuel smuggling, and called for an immediate end to the practice, to save the economy and national kitty.

A participant from the local drivers union, noted that, some Ivorian drivers, who crossed the border at Elubo and loaded passengers at unauthorized places, ended up as conduits for smuggling of fuel.

Another trader narrated how unscrupulous persons, used jerry cans and plastic containers to smuggle the product to Cote d’Ivore through unapproved routes, at the border thereby causing fuel shortage at Elubo.

The Sector Commander of Customs division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at Elubo, Assistant commander Mr. Ebenezer Akutteh, said smuggling along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border, was serious matter for stakeholders.

He noted that fuel gets finished shortly after delivery and wondered how many vehicles operated in the town for situation to occur.

Mr. Akutteh said recently, some people were arrested and jailed for smuggling fuel in drums across the border, and warned influential persons in the area who fronted such persons to desist from those acts.

He said, “The security agencies are always committed, but we will also rely on the vigilance and the information you give us.”

The second in command at the Elubo border, Mr. D.K. Mensah, noted that smuggling weakens the economy as revenue and foreign exchange is lost, undermines trade industry, and distorts statistical records.

“There is lack of revenue and distorts government yearly budget. Government is not able to provide essential social services and amenities for its people. Lazy citizens see smuggling as the easiest means of getting rich quickly,”he said

Mr. Mensah said some unscrupulous persons engaged in smuggling along the banks of River Tano at Elubo.