Ghana: All OMCs Will Receive Fuel Under ‘Gold For Oil’ Policy Except Tax Defaulters

The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs) in the Republic of Ghana says all oil marketing companies in the West African nation will be given a portion of fuel consignment from the government’s ‘Gold for Oil’ programme except OMCs who owe taxes due to the state.

Last week, the CEO of NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, at a press conference, said only OMCs with more than 45 retail outlets would receive fuel from fuel imported under the gold for oil programme.

However, addressing a press conference in Accra, the Industry Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Duah clarified that what the NPA Boss said was just one of the criteria.

He said all oil marketing companies would receive fuel from the programme except OMCs who owe taxes to the state.

The first consignment of fuel under the gold for oil programme was brought into the country in January.

Then on 18th and 19th February 2023, 40,000 metric tons of diesel and 35,000 metric tons of petrol also arrived.

Touching on the second consignment, Mr Agyemang-Duah explained that per the criteria for distribution of the products, OMCs with more than 45 retail outlets were to receive the products first because the government wants Ghanaians to feel the impact of any fall in fuel prices.

Mr Agyeman-Duah said the next consignment of products would be distributed to other OMCs to ensure some fairness so that there would be no discrimination.

Mr Agyemang-Duah, who welcomed the government’s gold for oil programme, said although the OMCs would be getting only 10 per cent of fuel supplies from the programme, the programme is helping to minimise their liabilities.

He also dismissed assertions that the implementation of the government’s gold for oil programme is intended to kick smaller OMCs out of business.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com