Premix Fuel Corruption Is Like Galamsey; Deal With It Immediately Or... - Baako Charges Prez

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr. has made a strident appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo to clamp down on all persons who engage in premix fuel diversion.

Speaking on 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, Kweku Baako decried the spate of corruptible practices in the premix fuel business.

According to him, the business is as cancerous as illegal mining - galamsey - and "if the President and his government don't exercise firm control of the situation, the menace will continue to fester".

He called on the government to discipline any individual or company found culpable in the illegal diversion of premix fuel without favour.

"We don’t have the luxury of an alternative. Otherwise, forget it," he stated.

Mr. Baako noted that there are powerful and influential people, some of which are party activists, business moguls, government cronies and so forth behind the illegal activities of premix fuel and the corruption thereof.

“There’s money there. It’s just the same as galamsey. They all talk openly that they want to solve the problem. Once their party is in office, what they do is to capture the initiative, capture the infrastructure, capture everything and use it for themselves. That’s what is happening. It’s happening today. It happened yesterday and if we’re not careful, it will happen tomorrow,” he said.

To him, the government must take the bull by the horn to crack the whip on every culprit.

“It’s like galamsey. When their party is in office, (they) their people; their top people, Regional Chairmen, constituency Chairmen . . . all of them are part of it. And very soon, these things will be made clear. The names and their identities will come out . . . there’s no need to compromise or hid things on this matter…”

Meanwhile, fourteen (14) oil marketing companies (OMCs) found culpable in the illegal diversion of premix fuel have been banned from the distribution of premix fuel supplies.

The joint decision by the Ministries of Energy and Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the National Premix Fuel Committee (NPFC) was reached after they discovered colossal diversions of premix fuel at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).

Also addressing the issue on 'Kokrokoo', the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Allotey Jacobs proposed other alternatives that could help curb the premix situation.

He called for a restructuring of the premix Secretariat and checks and balances to check any corrupt practice by the oil marketing companies and individuals.

"....government must not remove the subsidies on premix fuel....but since fisherfolks find it difficult to make ends meet; it is prudent that the commodity (premix fuel) is sold at a much cheaper price to them," he stated.

The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party, also touching on the topic, called on the Fisheries Ministry not to spare the indicted OMCs.

He stated that the companies should be prosecuted in the court of law to serve as deterrent to other potential perpetrators.