The Ghana Standards Authority has mounted a defence of the importation of substandard diesel fuel into the country, claiming fuels with non toxic sulphur chemicals are expensive for people to afford.
A report by campaign group, Public Eye, revealed Swiss firms have been exporting to Africa, diesel with toxin levels that are illegal in Europe. Vitol, Trafigura, Addax & Oryx and Lynx Energy have been named in the trade which the report blamed on weak regulatory standards in the African continent.
Public Relations Officer of the Authority, Amponsah Bediako, explained that fuel products that do not contain toxic Sulphur chemicals are too expensive that the country cannot afford. “The products coming in may contain a lot of sulphur, but that is our standard, and should not be termed substandard,” he told 3FM.
He assured that the levels of sulphur in fuels brought into the country will be brought down to protect the health of Ghanaians but that will come at an additional cost.
“We shall bring the levels of sulphur very low and protect the health of people, but that will mean a lot of money close to over one billion dollars. If we are not willing to spend that much money it will not be that possible,” Mr Bediako said. M
Meanwhile, the executive secretary of the Ghana Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Duncan Amoah, says it will ensure that consumers get value for money.
“I can assure you that whatever it takes to make these authorities answer to us will be done soon. We will engage them till they give us the needed answers,” said Some drivers have meanwhile claimed regular faults with their vehicles due to the substandard fuels that are sold at the pumps across the country.
50% petroleum products on the market dangerous
A comprehensive report by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy, ACEP, has revealed that about 50% of imported petroleum products which come into the country contain dangerous Sulphur chemicals.
According to a commodities researcher, Gian Valentino Viredaz, the findings from Ghana is alarming.
“Our findings are indisputable, we went round some fuel stations in Africa and sampled them in Netherlands and it came out that, the diesel and other fuel products sold in Africa are sub standard, and they come with a lot of health issues. It is a very important issue that should be raised,” he said.
But chief executive of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Horsi, says the findings of the report are not completely accurate as petroleum products in the country are of better standards than what is sold in the United States.
He said: “The products we get in this country are well in standard much better than the standard sets. What we should be looking at is improvements in standards, which should start from the authorities”.
Mr Horsi blamed policy makers for settling for cheap petroleum products, explaining that issue of cost is the major determinant in settling for petroleum products.
“It’s a policy decision that comes with cost implications, and we need to look at this. We will definitely look at this,” he told 3FM But Viredaz argued the justification is flawed, saying “if it’s a cost issue then it cannot hold. Other east African countries have shown that it is possible to import good quality products.
Source: tv3network.com
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Stuuupppiiiddiitttyyy ....he concludes his funny analysis by comparing Ghana with the US... as if Ghana and US have the same health plans and resources. It seems in Ghana today, every and any institution or person does what he wants without recourse to the weak and innocent people of Ghana
Please I want a good lawyer. I want to sue this use1ess tanin Asaga who is at NPA. I bought diesel in my mercedes, the engine has broken down since 2014. Please can any lawyer help me to sue this guys to recover my loss on my car and all other costs. I am sad to read this from a so-called gate keeper. You guys decided to starve TOR, so that you and your cron1es can bring in finished fuel products, only for you to bring in contaminated diesel without prior notice, only for you to be found pant5 down, and you are sticking your dirty fingers out to refer to standards. Shame on you. Even if I don't get to win against you, posterity will judge you, shamele55 imbeci1es. Nanniema
Why are we 'Blacks' or Africans or for that matter Ghanaians so STOOOOOOPID !!!!!!!!!!; and why do we gamble with out lives by ignoring our health for a few pennies ; does the government authorities consider the threat to peoples health with the high sulphur content fuel ; the government allows toxic electronic waste to be dumped on Ghanaians which then leads to cancer and environmental pollution and the same government which have signed international pollution treaties import polluted fuel to pollute the environment and cause various health problems for our people ; why did God create the African or for that matter the Ghanaian defective brains or is it just she GREED !!!!!!because I do not get it ; these politicians still our monies and hide the cash abroad ; but then come back and live in the same polluted air which eventually kills them and their relatives through cancer and then the claim to progressive; ARE WE MAD _KWARAAA !!!!!!!!and when shall we learn !!!!!!!
Ghana is supposed to be working with 'Afri III' Standards presently and make its way towards the 'Afri IV' Standards by 2020. All the explanations being given does not demonstrate Ghana is abiding, in this instance, with regional decisions. Just do the right thing and stop using cost as an excuse to increase Cancer cases in our Country.
God punish your mouth!!! Look at what is coming from a gate keeper!!!!
When the laws of this country are strictly adhered to such baloney talk will not be made. Taking the health of the people for a ride because its expensive to go in for the best. A rogue also justifies and compares the quality to what is sold in the U.S. and claims that of the Ghana is better. Such ignorance or ***barred word***
So you import substandard fuel into the country, then spend more money to make it standard. Why not use the same money to import standard fuel into the country? Lets not forget the other health implications. Has money been reserved for the impending health (cancer) implications of this product on the citizens?
There is an even bigger cost imposed by the healthcare burden resulting from high sulphur levels in fuels. All the talk of clean fuel is more expensive should be placed in a proper context. There is no substitute for the health of our people ***barred word***!