Business News of Thursday, 23 November 2017
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2017-11-23
Boakye Agyarko, Energy Minister
Member of Parliament for Bongo is alleging the much touted committee set up to investigate the BOST oil contamination saga never met.
Edward Bawa is convinced there is no report to submit despite promises by the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko to submit same.
Speaking to Joy News’ Emefa Apawu Thursday, Mr Bawa said he will soon table a motion before Parliament to demand the elusive report from the Minister.
The eight member committee was set up in June to investigate the circumstances under which 5 million litres of oil was contaminated.
The committee which is made up of representatives from the National Petroleum Authority, Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana Standards Authority, had terms of reference to, among others; Determine the circumstances that created the off-spec product
Review the procedures undertaken by BOST to evacuate the product
Ascertain the quality and remaining quantity of the product
Determine if the product can be corrected, if not determine the alternative use for the product.
The committee was given at least two weeks to conclude its investigations and counsel the Minister on the next line of action.
It has been five months since the committee was constituted and the report is yet to be made public.
The Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko told Parliament Thursday, the committee set up to investigate the BOST fuel contamination saga is almost ready with its report.
He said the government will soon issue a white paper on the report which will be made available to the public. He also noted the interim measures put in place to forestall future fuel contamination has helped to sanitise the system.
“The report will not be a national secret to be protected. It will be a document that should instruct and inform all of us on how we conduct ourselves going forward,” he said.
But the Minority is suspecting foul play. Bongo MP Edward Bawa said he is convinced the committee never met and has no report to issue.
“From day one we knew the committee was a cover up. The committee was set up on July 4 and was given two weeks to do their work. Today is 23rd November,” he stated.
He said given the delay in the release of the report he took steps to investigate if indeed the committee was meeting.
“My information was that the committee was not meeting,” he claimed, a development which prompted him to file a question on the floor of Parliament.
He said in the spirit of transparency he pinned the energy minister to provide details on when the report will be given but has yet to be given any credible
“If they never met of course there will be no report,” he stated, adding I know they didn’t meet and there is no report.”
