GHANA’S Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have contributed over $400 million ( Ghc 800 million) annually to the nation’s coffers in the form of the excise duties, road levies and other taxes.
The chief executive officer/Industry Coordinator of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs), Kwaku Agyemang-Duah who disclosed said players in the industry also offers direct and indirect employment to over 30,000 people in the country.
He said that the recent scarcity of fuel supply had negatively impacted the volume of products sold and hence the related outturns for OMCs to even survive to retain such employees on payroll.
Mr Agyemang-Duah was however optimistic that the measures being put in place by the stakeholders will provide for reliable supply of products.
On the issue of OMCs/LPGMs being asked to have “Bank guarantee” prior to lifting products by Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs), he posited that the AOMCs believe that the regulator should not be involved or drawn into commercial issues involving petroleum service providers in the spirit of deregulation but rather should constantly play its roles of ensuring a level playing field.
Mr. Agyemang-Duah debunked the assertion by BDCs that OMCs were the main cause of fuel shortage in the country, explaining that the BDCs keep on shifting blame from government, to banks and now to the OMCs, leaving themselves from the problem.
We unequivocally dismissed the statement as preposterous and request the BDCs to respect the supply agreement entered with individual OMCs, he stated.
Mr. Agyemang-Duah appealed: “It is pertinent that all relevant petroleum service providers and/or stakeholders put their shoulders to the wheel and redeem the industry to ensure reliable, sustainable and predictable supply of fuel to all and sundry rather than being mischievous and leathery”.
African Eye News
