Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Hon. Felix Mensah Nii Annag-La, today went on an unannounced scout at Landing beaches in the metropolis to ascertain intelligence that premix fuel is being hoarded and sold at cut-throat prices to fishers by members of the premix committee there.
The surprise tour caught members of the Landing Beach Committee off-guard and revealed that some 90 drums of premix fuel were tucked away at the Tema Harbor in a manner very suggestive of hoarding.
Police personnel and members of the Metropolitan guards who had gone with the MCE on the tour had wanted to arrest suspects but were dissuaded by claims that the fuel was not being hoarded.
According to the Chairman of Tema Canoe fishermen association, Adjietteh Quaye, the MCE had been misinformed by whoever alleged that they were hoarding fuel, and that the 90 drums of premix that had been tucked away belonged to some fishermen.
According to him, the fishermen to whom the fuel belongs had stockpiled the premix for long fishing journeys. None of the people who accompanied the MCE on the surprise tour believed a word Mr. Adjietteh Quaye said.
However, Archibald Ashitey Tetteh, Member of the premix committee at Tema Landing Beach also claimed that drums of premix that are being stored at various filling stations belonged to fishermen who keep them at these station for security against theft as well.
According to him, when fishermen are left to keep their own premix, they often have the premix stolen, and so out of the desire to ensure the security of the fuel, such fishermen keep them at the premix committee filling stations where they are not accessible to thieves.
A canoe fisherman called Alex Ampofo, alias Agboga, was the third voice of denial which convinced the team to stand down any intended arrests. He explained that the method of distributing premix has remained the same over the years, but that shortage being experienced by fishers is due to inadequate supply by the government.
Hon. Menmsah Annang-La, warned the committee members to be wary because he has his eyes on their every step and will not hesitate at all to arrest and prosecute people who hoard premix fuel.
According to him, even though the government has been faithfully supplying premix, fishers keep complaining that the fuel does not reach them. “The complaints are unduly making this government unpopular,” he said.
Available intelligence suggests that the premix is hoarded by the premix fuel Committee members and sold at cut-throat prices to fishers. Originally, a drum is supposed to be sold at ghc520 but because of the hoarding, a drum is selling for ghc1,200 on the black market.
Hon Annang-La warned that President Akufo-Addo has asked him to ensure that the ‘kalabule’ in premix fuel distribution is stopped and he will do everything in his power to ensure that whoever is behind it are brought to book.