The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) is calling on government to urgently investigate and arrest culprits involved in the illegal sale of petroleum products.
COPEC believes this will ensure the immediate halt of the illegal activity and revamp the once vibrant sector.
Oil Marketing Companies on Tuesday revealed that about 4,000 workers may lose their jobs in the next few months due to this development.
They argue that the once lucrative business is fast crippling as huge revenues are being lost to the illegal acts.
In an interview with Citi Business News, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah said government must act swiftly to bring an immediate stop to the illegal act.
“The phenomenon where vessels come to the harbor and some trolls get in there to load products and are able to get through the security systems and get these products out onto the market is not one that happens in space. We believe in the active participation and connivance of officials duly paid to ensure that these things are curtailed even if it has happened a day or two. I think we need this revenue more than private individuals who decide to do this criminal activity would need them to develop themselves.”
“We are calling on government to as a matter of urgency because as we speak a lot of licenses are still being awarded knowing very well there is a challenge there. We think it is a serious matter, one that the president should not go to sleep on, one that concrete action ought to be taken now and seriously,” he stated.
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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
