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The outgoing Upper East
Regional Minister Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh has registered his displeasure at the
continuous shortage of fuel in the region and has therefore instructed fuel station
managers and dealers to employ workable solutions that would ensure constant
supply of the commodity. He described as worrisome the rampant scarcity of
petroleum product, attributing the cause to the practice of hoarding, smuggling
and adjustment of fuel meters by some dealers and managers. Dr Nsoh who was
reacting to the incessant shortage of fuel in the region noted that the current
turn of event has undoubtedly thrown road users into depths of despair as they
take stock of the toll of the situation on their livelihood. He said for the
situation to improve fuel managers have a leading role to play since road motorists
have raised eyebrows about their activities. Dr Avea Nsoh cautioned fuel
dealers at an emergency meeting in Bolgatanga that should the situation
persist, his office would have no other option than to take drastic action
against persons that engages in fuel malpractices, particularly those that
adjust their fuel meters for their own selfish gains. He said beyond the delays
from Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation depots (BOST) among other major
storage facilities, some unscrupulous persons through act of profiteering resort
to the hoarding of fuel thus compounding the scarcity of the product. This, he
lamented, brings untold hardship to the people who are already overburdened
with the recent utility crisis. Dr Avea Nsoh warned that should anyone be
caught engaging in fuel malpractices, such persons would found themselves at
the wrong side of the law adding that a random check in partnership with the
law enforcement agencies would be done to check such negativities. In reaction
to the said claims, some fuel station managers blame the acute shortage of fuel
to the delay in supply from Buipe, which they indicated has not been consistent
over the period. Additionally, contingency measures are taken to cater for governmental
institutions and agencies that deposit monies for fuel. They also expressed
growing dissatisfaction about the influx of filling stations along the region
borders, particularly Paga, where about 14 filing stations have been
established as compared to the 12 stationed in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The
problem they cited has contributed greatly to the shortage of fuel in the
region, explaining that most heavy duty trucks from neighbouring Burkina Faso
and Togo prefer filling their tanks in Ghana due to the high cost of fuel in
their respective countries. They however appealed to the Regional Minister to
as a matter of expediency expedite action by questioning the existence and
legality of those fuel facilities in terms of licence and permit. Dr Nsoh as a
way forward advised fuel station managers to form a union so that issues
affecting their operations could be resolved when the need arises.
GBC
END
IA/
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