The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Parliamentary candidate for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Alexander Akuoko, has urged the government to eliminate middlemen in the distribution of premix fuel to fishing communities to avert diversion.
Speaking to Citi News, he argued that the desire by these middlemen to make profit influences the diversion of the subsidized product.
Mr. Akuoku insisted that the provision of premix fuel for fisherfolk was not a profit-making venture and did not need middlemen.
“It is not about profit-making. If it was about profit-making I don’t think the government would take time to go through that process. It is because the government wants to help them to make sure they go on fishing regularly. So if you are helping people, you don’t bring in people who are profit-oriented.”
Fishermen have been complaining about the diversion of premix fuel for years.
In 2017, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were cited in alleged Premix Fuel diversions across the country.
The government’s latest answer to the problem was to announce plans to digitise the distribution of premix fuel.
But the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodoo constituency, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, downplayed the move to digitise the premix fuel distribution.
He argued that individuals who input digital figures in the process of the distribution could still perpetrate corruption.
“You and I were in this country when we heard that GHc21 million cedis worth of premix had been diverted. Look at the real issues and stop bothering us with the issue of digitization. It will not solve anything.”
