The government of Ghana has lamented that illicit activities in the downstream petroleum sector is weighing heavily on the country’s economy, and that the country loses over $200million annually in tax revenue.

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, told Ghanaian Times that the illicit activities, which comes in the form of illegal bunkering, smuggling of petroleum products, and dumping of products meant for export on the local market, has become a source of great concern to the government.

“These activities constitute an emerging threat which impact negatively on our maritime security as well as the nation’s efforts in mobilising tax revenue from the sale of petroleum products,” the vice president. Dr Bawumia said the dynamics of the illicit activities in the petroleum downstream industry required a multi-pronged solution to ensure sanity in the industry, and charged the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to enhance and sustain the already irritated technological interventions to arrest the situation.

He informed that to stem the tide, the Ghanaian government is commissioning a National Command Centre for Electronic Cargo Tracking System to monitor huge petroleum tankers from loading points to delivery stations to prevent haulage theft and diversions. The tracking system aims at improving standards and efficiency in the industry.

He said the government believed in the use of appropriate technology to improve product and service delivery, hence the introduction of the tracking system was very appropriate and timely, adding that the adoption of new technologies has helped improve quality of life, work and leisure.

“We have many examples where the application of technology has also helped to improve productivity and allows the industry to remain competitive, provides better job security and creates more employment,” he said.

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source: www.orientenergyreview.com