Ghana’s Petroleum Downstream Regulator,NPA, has hinted that it will seek for the amendment of the ACT establishing the Authority, in order to apply tougher sanctions on persons or individuals caught to be dealing in petroleum theft.
The NPA in February this year confiscated petroleum products smuggled into the country estimated to be about GHC1 million.
The regulator said a total number of 28BRV, 6 canoes, 4 mobile pumps and 5 outboard motors carrying 709,250 liters of illegally smuggled petroleum products with taxes and levies value of GHC1, 150,186 have been confiscated.
The arrest, made in collaboration with the security agencies, is part of ongoing plans by the NPA to deal with fraudsters in the industry.
Speaking at the OIL and FUEL Supply Chain Security Conference on how to prevent fuel fraud in London, Mr. Hassan Tampuli, who is the CEO of NPA, said after more than ten years of its establishment, it is only appropriate the law is reviewed to enable the NPA to apply heavy sanctions on those caught to be engaging in fuel smuggling activities.
But while the NPA awaits that to happen, Mr. Tampuli said his outfit will continue to deploy technology to help block smuggling channels, while other channels are explored to combat fuel theft.
“We intend going forward to use more technology like the use of flow meters at the depots and fuel receiving facilities,” he said, adding; “we insist that if they don’t get the flow meters at those facilities, we will procure for them and ensure that they are working.”
