The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has clamped down on some fuel stations in the Western Region that have tampered with their fuel pumps as part of routine operations.
The exercise, spearheaded by the Consumer Services department at the NPA’s headquarters and the Western regional office, comes in response to frequent complaints about some stations adjusting their pumps to cheat their customers in order to maximize profits.
This necessitated unexpected visits to selected fuel stations in order to verify the accuracy of their pump delivery to petroleum consumers.
At the conclusion of the exercise, the team determined that some of the stations were responsible and, as a result, closed them down while they await further punitive measures from the NPA.
Mrs Eunice Budu Nyarko, the NPA’s Head of Consumer Services, stated in an interview that it is illegal for fuel service stations to pump fuel for sale to customers at less than the required litre.
Later, the team held a sensitization program for the region’s petroleum consumers. Mrs Budu Nyarko urged traders and commercial drivers to fulfill their civic duty by immediately reporting fuel stations suspected of adjusting their pumps to defraud customers.
They were given hotlines, which they could call 24/7, to lodge their complaints. She said, “when complaints are made within 48 hours of the purchase of fuel, prompt investigation can be carried out and the truth established before that product is sold out”.
She further advised the public to “buy fuels from functional filling stations since these stations are frequently monitored by the NPA and hence, the quality of their products can be guaranteed”.
The team also sensitized students of the Takoradi Technical University, traders at the Takoradi market circle, Jubilee Park and No.9 Markets and commercial drivers at the market circle on how to safely use LPG.
The NPA team highlighted the activities of the authority, including its mandate and responsibilities to the consuming public.
Cindy Andoh-Davies, a Manager at the Western regional office of NPA entreated consumers to adhere to safety protocols to prevent accidents.
The Consumer Services department regularly visits the regions to sensitise consumers of their rights and channels to send their complaints for prompt redress by the Authority.