TOR to change premix fuel colour
to check smuggling - Govt
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Aug 4, Ghanadot -
Government of Ghana has directed the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)
to change the colour of the pre-mix fuel so as to check
smuggling of the product in the country.
Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has
disclosed in Accra.
He noted that the change from the current yellowish colour
to blue would help prevent smugglers from diverting the
heavily-subsidised commodity for other uses than for fishing
boats and canoes.
The directive follows widespread media reports of acute
shortage of premix, a situation government blames on
smuggling.
TOR would not load any tanker unless it is branded for
PREMIX loading, while tracking devices would also be
procured to help monitor the distribution of the product.
He was hopeful that the new measures would help stabilize
supply and sanitize the industry since the shortage was
caused by diversion of the product by suppliers and agents
for other use.
Premix fuel has been in short supply months now, and calls
for streamlining supply have assumed a higher scale in
recent times.
Government has received criticisms from pressure group
Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) for failing to
ensure constant supply of the commodity to the fishing
community.
The group during a demonstration in Accra yesterday mounted
a huge canoe on a vehicle to highlight the problem and
chastised the government for acting slowly.
Fishermen in Ghana admitted that the shortage of the
commodity is stifling their businesses and called on the
government to find a lasting solution to the situation.
Ghanadot
