The two prime suspects in the alleged diversion of premix fuel in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region would be arraigned before the court, hopefully on Wednesday 4th May 2022.
The Administrator of the National Premix Secretariat, Nana Abrokwa Asare, disclosed this to the media on Thursday in Keta.
The Nukpesekope Landing Beach Committee Secretary, Jeoffrey James Ocloo, and a Goodness Energy tanker driver were picked up on Tuesday after some Keta residents raised red flags of a suspected diversion.
The driver was arrested in Abor, after it drove off from Keta, failing to dislodge the premix fuel at Nukpesekope.
Mr. Ocloo, who had signed the waybill though the fuel was not dislodged, was also picked up in Keta when he responded to a call from the driver who requested his intervention.
According to Mr. Abrokwa, the police had commenced investigations into the incidents and would make available their findings, which would determine the cause of the court case.
He, however, indicated that the premix fuel was intact in the tanker, per preliminary investigations.
“I must put on record that everything was intact in the truck, nothing was touched”, he said in an interview with the media.
He added that his outfit and the Fisheries Ministry would decide the next line of action after the police had concluded their investigations and the case determined in court.
Mr. Abrokwa emphasized that the necessary actions would be taken against the suspects if found culpable just like it was done to some landing beaches.
“We don’t want to take some of these infractions lightly at all. So if they are found culpable, if the investigations are concluded, and we realized that yes, actually the landing beach intended to divert the fuel, of course, we would also make sure we crack the whip”, he said.
He together with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, monitored the distribution of the premix fuel to ensure the products are sold to only fisherfolks in the catchment area.
“The Minister herself is on the ground, trying to ensure that there is equity in the distribution.”
“And you can see that the fisherfolks are happy because, in times like this, people want to hoard fuel and sell it for exorbitant prices etc. So we want to ensure that the system is clean and everybody is getting fuel to go to sea”, Mr. Abrokwa stressed.
The Keta Municipal Chief Executive, Emmanuel Gemegah, said he would appreciate and accept the findings of the police and the court’s decision.
He lauded the visit by the Minister to have first-hand information on premix distribution in the area and to ensure the right thing is done.
“This is what I have been fighting against for some time now. People who do not have anything to do with fishing also parade this place with their gallons to buy fuel, where are they sending it to?”, he quizzed.
“This is what I have been trying to stop and this is my offense, from even members of my own party and members of the opposition NDC”, he lamented.
