The Director of Operations for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Karsim Kwasi Bosum Ebenezer Dasi has allegedly accused the National Security of its failure to render proper accounts to stakeholders in the oil industry, over the sales of petroleum products that are been transported to Ghana illegally.
According to him, his outfits has apprehended many vessels containing petroleum products that have been brought from Nigeria to Ghana illegally and whenever the matter is reported to the National Security, nothing is seen done about it.
He accused the National Security rather offloading the petroleum products and allow the vessels to go back without prosecuting the suspects.
The IPMAN Ghanaian representative who expressed worries over the situation, hinted that just last week Saturday, one vessel and five others were apprehended by his men, and same was reported to the National Security.
He said the National Security offloaded the illegal products and kept them at Planto and, Akwaba, respectively which nothing has been done about it.
Meanwhile, on many occasions that he approach the National Security about some of the vessels that were arrested and the only feedback that is often given is that the products had been sold while hunting for the suspects.
“Just last Saturday, we caught one vessel, which was from Nigeria, which has its office at East Legon. I reported [it] to (name withheld) and he told me that, they have sent it Akwaaba Refinery and sold it already, and the vessel is gone but they are still targeting the vessel to arrest while they sell the products to Akwaaba,” he said to this portal via telephone conversation.
He alleged that when such incidents occurred the National Security sells the products without rendering proper accounts to the government and also filled the tanks with “Water”.
The Director of Operations for IPMAN noted that he has been tasked to be on surveillance in the waterways of Ghana and other ECOWAS member countries to apprehend any suspects who engage in an illegal deal of products from Nigeria to discharge them and report the IPMAN Authorities for necessary action.
He indicated that per the rules of the game, whenever an illegal vessel is being apprehended, they have to auction it, divide the money into three, give a share to the government of Ghana, other to the Nigerian Government and the Association also take its share.
But the National Security working at the port rather seized the illegal petroleum products and allegedly sold them without making any accounts to the Nigerian government which he feels it’s causing financial loss to the state.
He noted that the National Security illegally seized his vessel on 18th March 2020 and sold it on the claims that the President sent them to do so.
Meanwhile, in a letter sighted by this portal, IPMAN last month apprehended two vessels identified as MT Maria Soltin IMO: 7203699 and MT Askja which they petitioned the Nigerian Government to evacuate all the petroleum products from the vessels that have been suspected to have conveyed the illegal products from Nigeria and kept under its custody till further notice for necessary action to be taken.
The Association has also petitioned the ECOWAS to seek its support in the fight against oil smuggling in the country.
Mr. Karsim Kwasi Bosum Ebenezer Dasi, however, appeals to the government of Ghana to quickly intervene and fish out the perpetrators behind for the right thing to be done.