The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the Republic of Ghana has cautioned civil society groups in the energy sector that are visiting the premises of filling stations to carry out auditing or ensuring regulatory compliance to desist.
According to the Association, it is not the mandate of these groups to carry out regulatory functions, stating that, it is the sole responsibility of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure industry compliance.
‘We have cooperated with the inspectors of the National Petroleum Authority as they regularly inspect our stations for general compliance, including fuel dispensing pumps delivery levels.
“Our members have provided 10-litre measuring cans at their stations to enable our cherished consumers who may want to confirm the fuel dispensers delivery levels to do so and where they are dissatisfied, they are expected to report the matter to the GSA or NPA to check if, indeed, they are right so the appropriate action can be taken by the GSA or NPA against the operator involved. Where a member is found to have fallen foul of the law, the AOMC has, at all times, supported these regulatory agencies to make them face the full rigors of the law,” a statement signed by Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, CEO/Industry Coordinator, said.
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It would be recalled that the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, about two weeks ago, led a team to visit some filling stations in the Volta Region as part of efforts to ensure that they were complying with industry regulation.
However, the AOMC has kicked against the move.
“We would, therefore, like to reiterate that any group or entity wanting to assure itself of the pump delivery accuracy at any fuel stations should properly engage the relevant regulators to collaborate in a meaningful manner and also to ensure that the requisite Health, Environment, Safety, Security and Quality (HESSQ) protocols are appropriately complied with.
“We must caution that the retail outlets are confined spaces for safety reasons, therefore, besides quickly buying fuel or patronising any of the other related services, one should not trespass unless one has been legally mandated to perform certain functions at the stations,” the statement concluded.