The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in the Bono Region is intensifying efforts to clamp down on illegal fuel trade activities, warning operators of unlicensed gas stations and table-top fuel sellers to immediately cease operations or face prosecution.
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‎The Authority says the increasing sale of petrol and diesel at unauthorized locations across the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions is becoming a major safety concern that threatens lives and property.
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‎Speaking on the issue, the Bono Regional Manager of the NPA, Joseph Kwame Gyan, explained that many of these operators conduct business without approval from the Authority and fail to adhere to the required safety standards governing the handling and sale of petroleum products.
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‎According to him, fuel products are highly flammable and must only be handled under strict safety conditions by licensed operators.
He noted that the activities of table-top fuel sellers expose both customers and surrounding communities to the risk of fire outbreaks and possible explosions.
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‎Mr Gyan stressed that the situation, if left unchecked, could result in serious disasters in the affected communities. He therefore urged the public to avoid purchasing fuel from unauthorized dealers and instead patronize licensed filling stations approved by the NPA.
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‎The Regional Manager further reveals that some operators of unlicensed gas stations import gas from the Ivory Coast and transfer the products into Ghanaian cylinders, a practice he says violates the operational regulations of the NPA and compromises safety standards within the petroleum sector.
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‎He says the Authority will continue monitoring the activities of illegal operators and collaborate with the security agencies to enforce the law against offenders.
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‎Mr Gyan is therefore cautioning all illegal fuel dealers and unlicensed gas station operators to regularize their operations and comply with the laid-down regulations or face the full rigours of the law.
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