Business News of Wednesday, 8 August 2018
Source: Michael Creg Afful
2018-08-08
Hassan Tampuli, CEO of National Petroleum Authority
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has lifted the ban it placed on 8 Oil Marketing Companies and Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) which engaged fraudulent activities that led to the loss of tax revenue to the government.
Chief Executive Officer of NPA Mr. Hassan Tampuli who disclosed this, said the decision was taken by the Governing Board of NPA after appeals from the suspended companies.
“The Board of Governors granted the appeals from the suspended companies hence their return to operations,” he said in response to a question posed to him as to why Agapet is operating when it has been suspended.
It would be recalled that NPA last month suspended Union Oil Ghana Limited, Agapet Limited, Excel Oil Company Limited, Misyl Energy Company Limited and Globex Energy Company Limited, Petro Afrique Company Limited, Life Petroleum Company Limited and Unique Company Limited for allegedly engaging in tax evasion.
A statement from the NPA on the matter said the companies have been suspended for between one and three months.
The suspension took effect on 18th July, 2018.
The NPA said the suspension was “for their involvement in activities that led to the loss of tax revenue to the Government of Ghana.”
It warned the companies not to engage in any “sale, supply, transportation, discharge and receipt of petroleum products for the duration of their suspension.”
The companies who were handed a 3-month suspension include Petro Afrique Company Limited, Life Petroleum Company Limited and Unique Company Limited.
The NPA further urged the public to desist from engaging the services of any of the sanctioned companies.
However, the suspended companies have resumed full operations following the lifting of the ban.
[20:02, 8/8/2018] Selorm Helen: ECG Recoups GH¢483,449.28 From Illegal Connections
The Central Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana has recovered GH¢483,449.28 for the second quarter of 2018 from illegal connections.
The Regional Revenue Protection Manager, Mr. Kow Ampah, revealed told the media that the amount was realized as a result of customers who were surcharged for engaging in illegal connections.
He said the exercise was part of ECG’s routine checks of customers’ premises to ensure that illegal connections are reduced to the barest minimum.
Mr. Ampah further explained that during the period, a total of 4,678 meters were visited and screened in the Kasoa North and South Districts. The outcome indicated that, 202 residential and 78 commercial customers were involved in various forms of illegalities such as meter tampering, unauthorized service connections, meter by-pass among others.
“The Company recovered 212,337kWh of energy during the period and this forms part of steps to reduce system losses,” he said.
The Regional General Manager of ECG, Ing. Dr. Kwabena Adomah on his part also hinted that the ECG is on the look out to prosecute customers who engage in such illegal connections.
He added that customers should desist from transfer of meters without ECG’s permission because of its adverse impact on the Company.