The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers-Ghana (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, says the launch of the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) Digital Retail Fuel Monitoring System is a step in the right direction and a good initiative.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Amoah intimated that his outfit is happy that something is being done about fuel smuggling challenges in the sector. digital system
“Well, we have been talking about fuel smuggling and the challenges on the economy especially;when you look at the fact that we need so much of revenue and yet;the revenue find its way into the pockets of some private individuals running into billions of Ghana cedis.
“So, we are happy that something is being done about the fuel smuggling issue and it was great news to hear that another step is being taken to curtail the smuggling. We will be happier if by close of 2021 fiscal year, we see improvement;in government revenue following from this launch that has been done.”
Duncan Amoah
Mr Amoah further said beyond the launching of the Fuel Monitoring System to curtail the smuggling of fuel,;persons involved in the illegal activity should be sought after.
“However, we will be quick to add that beyond launching this programme to curtail the smuggling bit,;there should also be the political will to go after persons involved in the fuel smuggling.”
Duncan Amoah
Also commenting on the new development by the NPA, the CEO of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies in Ghana,;Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Duah, also indicated that, irregularities within the downstream petroleum sector is deeply entrenched that;it will not take the NPA just measures to deal with it.
Irregularities, cause of high fuel prices
Mr. Agyeman Duah admitted that downstream petroleum irregularities are the major cause of high major fuel prices at the pump;as some OMCs are able to evade taxes and sell products at relatively cheap prices.
“It is among all of us, the OMCs, the politicians. It is something that we need more hands to be able to achieve. Because you will realize that, somebody will have fuel and sell… some of them too will mingle and smuggle fuel without paying tax on them.
“So, you see in the regular market there are varying prices. Because if you see the prices that fuel is being sold on the market,;you don’t expect some of the pumps to sell it as such.”
Mr Agyeman Duah
The Fuel Monitoring System, will allow fuel in Oil Marketing tanks across the country to be monitored by NPA. This, the Authority says, will curb illicit activities in the petroleum downstream sector, such as;unauthorised third-party deliveries, fake receipts, smuggling, among others.
Under the Fuel Monitoring System, any OMC that receives illegal fuel would also be found out.
Launching the programme in Accra, the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia commended the NPA for leveraging the government’s digitization drive to create;an innovative solution to a major problem in the petroleum industry.
Dr. Bawumia stated that there were losses made with regards to petroleum revenue;to the government due to illegal activities in the distribution of petroleum products,;adding that the initiative by the NPA will end the issue of revenue loss and significantly boost government revenue.
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