Two Persons have been paraded before the Cape Coast Circuit Court 1 for stealing premix fuel and intending to sell it illegally.
The suspected leader, Ocansey Rudolf, and his driver were arrested by the Police when they allegedly hoarded the premix fuel at a Basic Primary School at Komenda in the Central Region.
The Elimina Municipal Chief Executive Officer, Ebo Appiah, who confirmed the incident explained that he had a tip-off that the suspects were hiding in the school premises and allegedly selling the premix fuel to some fishermen whereas the place was not a landing site.
According to the MCE, he then informed the Police who rushed to the school and arrested the dealer and his driver.
He explained on 30th July 2022, “they were put before the court after being charged by the Police.”
He said after a pled by their counsel for bail, they were granted bail with two sureties who take a salary of Ghc 6,000.00 and land with Property but they could not fulfil the bail conditions and were reminded for 28 days.
“Thereafter they were brought back to the court and later met the requirement and were granted bail. After their Counsel intervene,” he said.
The MCE added that based on the plea from the lawyer of the suspects, the Court has been asked to search for the samples of the fuel to see if it was premix fuel, adding that the case has since been adjourned as the Court is waiting for the outcome of the search to continue the case.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister speaking on the floor of Parliament said the smuggling of premix fuel in Ghana will soon be a thing of the past.
According to Mavis Hawa Koomson, her Ministry has developed and deployed a new software for the deployment of premix fuel in the country.
She said the new technology will help promote the efficient management of the commodity, adding that the system allows her office to track the movement of premix fuel across the country.
“Now we are coming with a more efficient one [technology]. When I am even in the office, I can see the truck that is loading and the quantity that will be in the tank and whenever a fisherman draws premix fuel from the dispenser, I will know,” she said.
Recently, the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana bemoaned the erratic supply and mismanagement of the product.
The fishers said the incessant premix fuel diversion and the mismanagement of the distribution of the product have become alarming.
