Hassan Tampuli,CEO of NPA
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has launched the phase two of the petroleum products marking scheme (PPMS) which will put to an end the shortfall and leakages identified in phase one.
This comes six years after introducing the fuel marking scheme in Ghana to check the adulteration of petroleum products sold to consumers at the various pumps.
This is seen as a big breakthrough for the Authority and it will go a long way to sanitise and control the quality of petroleum products sold on the Ghanaian market.
Sealing the loopholes
At a ceremony to launch Phase 2 of the of PPMS on Wednesday, the chief executive of NPA, Alhassan Tampuli, said the second phase is essential because contaminated petroleum products on the market have far-reaching consequences and it’s negative effects unquantifiable.
According to him, NPA has had to work hard to seal the loopholes in the downstream industry, adding, “every single day people are finding new ways to beat the system.”
“In fact, every single hour people are at work trying to beat us so we have to be at work too so we can be ahead of those doing illegal business in the industry,” he stressed.
Mr Tampuli further said that the new phase is anchored on high-end technology and thus data of the marker is secured, encrypted and checked in real-time to help eliminate any act of illegality.
He assured that his outfit is working assiduously to ensure that consumers get good and quality petroleum products at the various pumps as well as value for money.
“The marker is a unique identifier which aids in distinguishing the various types of petroleum products and exposes the addition of a foreign product if any. This is achieved by testing samples of petroleum products on a monthly basis at approximately 75 per cent of retail outlets & bulk consumers across the country. Tests are carried out with proprietary analytical devices which detect the presence or otherwise of the marker,” he said.
“Do more”
In his contribution, a Deputy Energy Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, commended the NPA for its continuous effort to clean up the petroleum downstream sector.
He encouraged the NPA not to rest on their oars because there is more to be done and achieved in the petroleum industry.
The Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema-Osei Opare, said fuel adulteration is a worldwide problem which needs stringent measures to arrest and defeat.
She said fuel adulteration has dire consequences on the revenue projection of government since those who engage in the illicit trade fail to pay the needed taxes.
Madam Frema-Osei Opare was hopeful that this new phase two of the PPMS will block the revenue leakages and help the government raise the needed revenue to carry out other developmental projects.
“I am very confident that this programme will help Ghanaian consumers realise that they are getting value for money,” she indicated.
About the PPMS
The petroleum product marking scheme (PPMS) provides a foundation for an effective quality monitoring systems by offering consumer quality assurance and protection for products at the final dispensing outlet, checking/controlling malpractices that result in loss of government revenue and a secondary effect of interfering with product quality, increase tax base & revenue, to reduce smuggling as well as for fair business competition.
