The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has set up a committee of inquiry (COI) to investigate allegations of impropriety at the Accra Plains and Kumasi Depots belonging to the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company (BOST).
Inaugurating the eight-member committee yesterday, the Minister said the move has become necessary following incessant allegations of irregularities at the afore-mentioned depots, and to ensure optimum efficiency in the transportation of fuel products.
The committee is chaired by Mrs. Clothilde Akosua Agbenorto of the National
Petroleum Authority (NPA) and has Ms Dorothy Afriyie Ansah of the Ministry of Justice & Attorney General?s Department; Mr. Kweku Agyeman-Duah of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies; and Mr. Nii Lante Blankson of the Bureau of National Investigations as members.
Other members are Mr. Erasmus Asamoah, General Manager (Production) of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR); Mr Andrews Owusu Berfi, Chief Operating Officer, Fueltrade; Mr. Ignatius Doe, Executive Secretary of the Tanker Owners Association; and Mr. Kwame Boan Siriboe, Head, Petroleum Downstream at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
Mr. Buah asked the team to determine its own procedures for conducting the investigations, and invite witnesses and/or experts to assist in its work.
Mrs. Agbenorto thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in them, and promised to work diligently to verify all the allegations.
The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the Minister within two weeks from the first day of sitting.
