According to Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the recent halt in the supply of premix fuel was caused by the Bulk Distribution Companies’ (BDCs’) failure to blend the necessary quantities for distribution.
She estimated that this had a negative impact on the nation’s supply of premix gasoline but assured that measures were being made to address the supply problems.
Last Thursday, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Pru East in the Bono East Region, posed a question to Mrs. Koomson, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for the Awutu Senya East Constituency in the Central Region.
Dr. Donkor was interested in learning what was being done to make the distribution of premix fuel more efficient so that it would be distributed adequately and fairly to fishermen on the Volta Lake, especially in the Pru East District.
According to Mrs. Koomson, the ministry and BDCs have been talking about the supply problem in order to mix more premix fuel for the landing beaches.
She explained that the lack of premix fuel in these places was caused by the BDCs’ inability to blend the necessary quantities.
In contrast, Dr. Donkor stated at a subsequent press conference that the National Premix Secretariat and premix off-takers owed “these BDCs through the Oil Marketing Companies.”
He reiterated that through the subsidiary that was on premix, the Ghanaian state owed the BDCs money as well.
“If you owe the people, how are they going to blend sufficient quantities when you are whittling down their working capital,” he asked.
He made reference to the fact that the majority of those employed in the fishing business were hardworking, underprivileged peasants, and that “all of us” ought to “stand up” if the government did not support them by providing a crucial fishing input like premix.
Dr. Donkor urged the government to act right away and fulfill all of its contractual responsibilities to the BDCs.
Source: newsthemegh.com