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Ghana Standards Board warns fuel
managers on re-adjustments
Tamale, Feb. 23, Ghanadot/GNA -
The Ghana Standards Board in the Northern Region would soon
embark on periodic checks on fuel stations in the three
northern regions to ensure that their verification fuel
instruments and wind scales were not tampered with for
cheating the unsuspecting public.
The board would also embark on an exercise to get sachet
water producers in the area to register with the board and
those who flout the order would face sanctions.
Mr. Francis Gweni Luguwuu, Northern Regional Officer of the
Ghana Standards Board disclosed this to the Ghana News
Agency in an interview in Tamale on Friday.
He said in some few cases in parts of the country, fuel
station managers were caught and that the situation in the
three northern regions was worse because of the distance
involved for members of the Board to embark on verification
exercises periodically.
He said the Board often visits the stations once every six
months and managers know periods of visit and they could
adjust the seals themselves and after Standards Board's
personnel had finished verification they readjust them,
which he said, was against the law.
"Information reaching me in my few days in the region
indicates that fuel filling station managers and their
attendants were readjusting their verification instruments
after the board had adjusted them to sell the product at a
higher cost to the unsuspecting public.
He said the same thing was being done to Liquefied Petroleum
Gas (LPG) to the ignorance of customers and warned them to
desist from the practice to ensure sanity in the petroleum
market.
On sachet water, he said only one producer had certification
certificate from the board and advised the public to be wary
of sachet water they consume since the board could not
guarantee the safety of sachet water in the regions.
He has, therefore advised them to register with the board to
facilitate their businesses and that the Ghana Standards
Board meets international standards and they could export
their water to neighbouring countries for sale.
Mr. Francis Loguwuu, who also takes additional
responsibility of the Upper East and Upper West Regions said
the first phase of the fuel verification process has started
with the Upper East Region and that anyone found culpable
would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
He advised the public to remain vigilant when buying
petroleum products since fuel attendants could cheat them
easily and that any member of the public who felt cheated
after buying the product should report to the Board's office
in Tamale for re-verification.
He said the board was working hard to maintain standards and
to improve quality of lives in all, adding that it was not
enough for members of the public to complain that fuel
stations were cheating while they themselves were not
vigilant.
Mr. Luguwuu also advised fruit producers in the three
northern regions who have not yet registered with the board
to do so to avoid sanctions and that they could also test
for pesticide residue value for quality products for export.
GNA
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