Speculations Were True, Fuel Shortage Hits Tema and Accra

Confirmed reports coming in from TV3 indicate that most filling stations in the Accra metropolis have run out of petroleum products.
According to the report, a visit to some filling stations Monday evening by the reporters revealed that while some of the stations have halted services to the motoring public, others are contending with long queues.
The Total Filling Stations in Kanda and Ringroad Central have no fuel, TV3’s Sandra Amarquaye reported on News@10 on Monday, August 18.
The Shell Filling Station near Obetsebi Lamptey Roundabout and Allied Oil at Zongo Junction, Accra have to contend with queues as a result of limited stock.
Most filling stations ran short of gas oil or Diesel last week, but the current situation – which involves petrol – is feared to plunge the country into another bout of hardship.
The Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) says it is unsure when the current situation will normalize as banks are shying away from providing letters of credit for the purchase of the commodities from vessels.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has remained silent on the incident as efforts to reach officers to react to the situation have proven futile.
In a related development, fishermen operating at the Tema Canoe Beach are yet to receive allocations of premix fuel to power their outboard motors for fishing expeditions.
The fishermen, with over 600 canoes last received its allocation a week ago.
Nii Odamettey, Tema Awudum Chief Fisherman, told the Ghana News Agency that instead of its four times a week allocation, they only received one allocation last week.
Nii Odametey said this has resulted in the inability of some of the fishermen to go to sea.
He lamented that the fishermen could not afford to buy “super petrol” and mix it with engine oil, which is an alternative to the premix fuel, due to its high cost.
He explained that while a gallon of premix is sold at GH¢7.10, just a gallon of super exceeds GH¢10, which must be mixed with engine oil which is also an additional cost.
The chief fisherman said the shortage of premix fuel would add to their hardship if the situation is not immediately solved.
According to him, even though the cold weather comes along with the fishing season, they were yet to get a bumper harvest, due to the activities of vessels and the use of light and other unapproved methods of fishing.
He called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to intensify its inspections on vessels to comply with the country’s fishing laws.
Nii Odamettey questioned the rationale for the registering of more vessels especially Chinese Vessels to operate and deplete the sea of fingerlings leading to low a catch by canoe fishermen.