Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in the oil and gas industry of the country are demanding accountability from the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST) for the margins it collects in the Price Build-Up (PUP) of petroleum products.
It could be recalled that the BOST margin somewhere last year increased from 3 pesewas to 6 pesewas and now to 9 pesewas, a situation the CSOs are demanding accountability from BOST on the utilization of the monies it receives.
“We in the CSOs space want accountability from BOST for the margins they collect. I don’t think it is fair for Ghanaians to always be asked to pay monies that we don’t know what the monies are used for. It is been a norm in the sector where monies are paid and nobody follows up”, the Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (IEPR), Kwadwo Poku stated.
He said this when CSOs working in the energy sector of the country paid a familiarization tour to the Bolgatanga Depot of BOST in the Upper East Region. The purpose of the visit was to ensure there is value for money from BOST on the margins it receives.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Poku who commended the management of BOST for proper utilization of the monies it receives stated that “some of the repairs couldn’t have been done but because Ghanaians agreed to pay a little more”.
The Bolgatanga depot in 2018 undertakes some repairs on its pipeline which was damaged by GRIDCO. But the Executive Director for the Institute of Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII expects GRIDCO to pay for the over 340, 000 dollars BOST incurred to repair its damaged pipelines as a measure to protect the public purse.
He emphasized further that the future of the country’s downstream petroleum industry could brighten further if there is fuel security for domestic and export supply.
“When we deepen our export and at ECOWAS, we will have a big say because we control a key commodity like petrol and electricity that we export to neighboring countries. It is important that NPA and any other sector player that supports the downstream petroleum industry should help provide the necessary mechanism to see to it that the export market is working”.
Among some energy experts who joined the tour include the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, pressure group, OccupyGhana was represented by Dr. Richard Asante Yeboah, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) Deputy General Secretary, Wesley Owusu was represented and Benjamin Owusu with COPEC.
Source: A1Radioonline|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah
