Fuel Cheating: Association Of Oil Marketing Companies Apologizes To Ghanaians

Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, Chief Executive Officer for OMCs

The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) in the West Africa country, Ghana, has apologized to its numerous customers who are reported to have been cheated by some of its members.

“We would like to unreservedly apologise to customers who may have been affected by this unfortunate incident,” the association said in a statement signed by the Industry Coordinator, Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, and Board Chairman, Johnny Crosby Blagogee.

It would be recalled that the Ghana Standards Authority, on Monday, issued a statement which indicted about ten OMCs of cheating customers.

The stations were found to be under delivering right quantity of fuel to customers. 
The finding followed an inspection of fuel measuring and dispensing instruments in parts of the country.

The 10 stations include Shell at the Motorway Extension, Total at McCarthy Hill, GOIL at Mile 11, Frimps Oil at Tetegu junction, GOIL at Galilea, Frimps Oil at Spintex Road, Glory Oil at Spintex Road, Allied Oil at Sakaman, Shell at Amanfrom West and Goodness Energy, Kasoa.

In addition, two companies-Galaxy Oil and Agapet, but at Spintex Road-were found to have broken the Ghana Standards Authority seal without permission.

“In summary, out of 65 stations visited, 55 delivered right quantities whilst 10 under-delivered,” the GSA said in a statement.

But, the association, in a statement, expressed serious concerns about what it described as wrong impression created as if its members were deliberately cheating customers.

“The credible and sustainable Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) mentioned have since corrected the issue raised by GSA, during the audit of their retail outlets.

“It is worth noting that these companies have quality vans and personnel with excellent technical know-how, who, periodically, embark on visits to their retail outlets in order to ensure the right quality, quantity and pricing are delivered to consumers across the country.

“We continue to assure consumers of our relentless and unwavering determination to attain 100% compliance,” the statement concluded.

Below is the full statement

REPORTED DISCREPANCIES OF FUEL DELIVERY AT SOME SELECTED RETAIL OUTLETS

The AOMC’s attention has been drawn to the Ghana Standards Authority’s (GSA) usual verification audit at the various retail outlets. A review of their press release dated Monday 10th June 2019 indicate 85% compliance to the fuel delivery within the tolerance level and 15% non-compliance. It is therefore unfortunate to create the impression that OMCs are deliberately cheating consumers.

These credible and sustainable Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) mentioned, have since corrected the issues raised by the GSA during the audit of their retail outlets.

 It is worth noting that these companies have quality vans and personnel with excellent technical know-how who periodically embark on visits to their respective retail outlets in order to ensure the right quality, quantity and pricing is delivered to consumers across the country.

We employ delivery pumps which are mechanical devices, subject to under or over delivery within the six months calibration period. Be it as it may, we would like to unreservedly apologize to consumers who may have been affected by this unfortunate incident.

We would like to remind our dear consumers that in the event of any doubt of the volume of fuel being served at retail outlets, the ntease kwura (10-litre can) should be requested to verify volumes delivered. We will however continue to invoke our “mystery shopping” and put our finger on the state of the art technology which is currently under discussions with the appropriate regulators including the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

We continue to assure consumers of our relentless and unwavering determination to attain 100% compliance.

Thank you.

……Signed……                                       ………signed…………

Kwaku Agyemang-Duah                      Mr. Johnny Crosby Blagogee
INDUSTRY COORDINATOR                   BOARD CHAIRMAN, AOMC