Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson has told the Government Assurance Committee that fifty (50) of the premix fuel automated dispensing projects have been completed whiles the rest are at various points of completion when she appeared before the Committee on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
According to her the project is expected to cure the diversion of premix fuels. She also used the opportunity to apologise to the Committee for her inability to honor their invitation adding that it was not deliberate.
Her remarks came up as a result of the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije wanting to know from the Minister the current state of the premix fuel dispensers.
Meanwhile, the ranking member on the Committee, Oti Bless drew the attention of the Minister to take note that whatever will be said at the Committee level, they as a committee would move for a field verification.
The Minister responded by saying she is sure of what she is saying and would not come before the Committee to say anything that cannot be verified.
As to the locations of the fifty premix dispensers, she said though it was not part of the question sent to her to verify the places, on top of her head, she can say Elmina has three, whiles Salt Pond has one and there is another one at KEEA, she told the Committee.
“Again, in Accra we have Nuguah, Chorkor, and in the Volta Region – Adidome, Kpando, South and North Dayi among others”.
As to whether with the introduction of the premix fuel dispensers there has been improvement to curb stealing of the product, the Minister responded in the affirmative, saying fishermen get the premix fuel as measures have been put in place including one needs a card to draw the fuel.
“Mr. chairman thirty thousand litters which is supplied does not finish a day; it takes a week before it gets finished and we have used digitalisation to minimize theft”, she added.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
