<<Print>>

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), in collaboration with the police, has arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the sale of petroleum products contrary to the law. Among the three, two have been identified as Nana Osei Acheampong and Sean Paul. The identity of the third person, who is a woman, is being withheld because she is a caretaker. Acheampong was arrested at Dompoase Aprabo while Sean was picked up at Atonsu-Agogo, all in Kumasi at the beginning of a three-day exercise by the NPA to clamp down on the illegal sale of petroleum products in bottles, on tables and shops that are not licensed to offer such services. Press briefing Briefing the press on the exercise, the Head of Public Relations and Consumer Service at NPA, Mr Yaro Kasambata, said the exercise was in conformity with Section 31 of the NPA Act 691(2005). The law stipulates that, �A person shall not sell or display for sale a petroleum product on a display unit or flow meter unless the price of the petroleum product is indicated in cedis and pesewas�. According to Mr Kasambata, the activities of those arrested contravened the provisions of the Act as they had not been licensed by the authority to deal in the products. He explained, however, that the exercise was limited to those who dealt in petrol and diesel but not those who sold kerosene as the law allowed petty trading in kerosene. Guidelines Mr Kasambata further explained that due to the hazardous nature of the product, there were guidelines that regulated their sale and distribution and as such, should not be sold anyhow. Aside from the quality of the products which could not be ascertained, he said, the manner in which they were handled, also put the lives of the dealers and those around them in great danger. He said the practice where petroleum products were retailed on table tops, was gaining currency in the country and that there was the need to nip such practice in the bud. Mr Ksambata said the exercise would be carried out nationwide until those involved were completely dealt with.