Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) s have dismissed suggestions that they are short-changing consumers.
The OMC�s assertions follow a series of public complaints that some fuel retailers have been ripping off consumers.
During last Monday�s edition (28th April, 2014) of the Citi Breakfast Show, a flood of callers into Accra-based Citi 97.3 FM alleged various forms of malpractices against retailers operating within Ghana�s petroleum downstream industry.
Many of the callers accused a number of fuel stations of selling sub-standard petroleum products to customers.
The companies have also been accused of deliberately ripping off customers by adjusting their pumps to deliver less fuel than requested.
According to some consumers the current challenge coupled with the close to 24% upward fuel price adjustment by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is putting considerable strain on their budgets.
But the retail and property development manager of Engen Ghana limited Agbeko Lotsu tells Citi Business News the review of fuel prices through the NPA�s automatic adjustment formula affects the quantity of fuel.
He explained that �we�ve had not less than 24% increase in fuel prices from January, and that will mean that anybody who is buying fuel will no longer enjoy the same quantity they used to, 50 cedis in January for example will not be the same quantity if you buy now�.
Mr. Lotsu challenged customers to demand the use of verification cans approved by the Ghana Standard Board upon suspicion.
�We�ve worked closely as an industry with our regulator and Association of oil Marketing Companies, we�ve put in place structures, we have something we call �abusua Kuwra�, which is a verification can to guide and protect customers .
We believe sometimes the frequent power fluctuations and faulty equipments affect the level of fuel delivered at the pump station�. He said
Meanwhile the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has warned that it will deal severely with any fuel retailer or distributor found to be short-changing consumers at the pump.
The sanctions could include imprisonment, fine or both.
<<Print>>