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Fuel smuggling
to Togo on the increase
Aflao (V/R), March 8, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr Moses
Atsu Kumalor, a retired Sailor, has advised the government
to act with dispatch to tackle the massive smuggling of
petroleum products to neighbouring Togo from the Ketu-South
District.
He said the situation was worrying as smugglers were
ferrying thousands of litres of petroleum products by sea
and land into Togo daily.
Mr Kumalor, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at
Aflao, suggested the reconstitution of the District
Anti-Fuel Smuggling Security Task Force.
He said the illicit trade, which resurfaced when prices were
lowered in December last year, would worsen as a result of
further decreases in price this week.
He urged the authorities to compel the GPRTU and other
transport associations to always reduce transport fares
commensurate with fuel price cuts so that the average
commuter could benefit.
Mr Kumalor held that only transport operators stood to make
windfalls from oil price reductions unless commercial
drivers were made to reduce fares drastically.
Investigations by the GNA showed that a litre of petrol
which currently costs about 82Gp in Ghana, attracts the
equivalent of GH¢1.32 in Togo.
A fuel station attendant in Togo confirmed to the GNA that
petrol was virtually pouring in from Ghana by land and sea.
The Aflao Police also confirmed the situation and blamed
Fuel Station managers in and around Aflao for colluding with
the smugglers.
The Police said many of the smugglers have devised means of
swimming with gallons of fuel by sea into Togo.
GNA
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