THE NATIONAL Petroleum Authority (NPA) has cautioned the public to desist from patronizing the services of persons who sell fuel on table tops across the country.

These persons, the NPA noted, were involved in the selling of adulterated fuel and others which had the potential to spoil vehicle tanks and engines.

Addressing a cross section of media practitioners in the Ashanti Region, Betty Nana Yaa Ofori, Regional Manager for NPA-Ashanti said the activities of these unscrupulous persons was festering the incidence of having adulterated fuels in the country.

‘’I will advise the public to buy from properly licensed and certified fuel stations across Ghana so that they would have the best of fuels to undertake their operations and activities’’, the Regional Manager stated.

Challenges:

The Regional Manager noted that the NPA was facing challenges with how some pump attendants dealt with clients.

Some, she mentioned do not put in the right litres into gallons and tanks of vehicle owners, while others also adjusted their pumps to cheat unsuspecting customers.

Additionally, she noted that many pump attendants do not have the right knowledge in handling petroleum products, with some appearing untrained.

‘’We’ve realized that some pump attendants lack the knowledge in handling petroleum with some appearing untrained and without certification’’, Madam Ofori noted.

Legal Representative:

Madam Farida Musa, Head of LEGAL-NPA said her outfit in combating the incidence of fuel diversion and adulteration were conducting investigations to reports they were receiving.

She added that together with the NPA task force, the Ghana Police was engaging in swoops at hideouts of these unscrupulous persons.

She noted that so far, thirteen (13) tanker drivers who were reported to be engaged in diversion had been arrested.

80 others, Madam Fatima were also in the grips of the Police for engaging in illegal table top selling of petroleum products.

‘We’ve arrested about 93 persons for acts of diversion and illegal trading of fuel on table tops and they are awaiting prosecution by the Police and we are sure by next year when we receive the clearance from the Attorney General NPA would be clothed with the legal prosecutorial powers to deal with those who flout the law we have set before the AGs table’’, the Legal Services Head stated.

BY Michael Ofosu-Afriyie 

Kumasi