The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) is calling for a bipartisan probe into COPEC’s allegations of a shady crude oil sale by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST).
The Executive Director of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has alleged that the deal has resulted in Ghana losing some Gh¢23 million.
The Minority has corroborated the claims but BOST has rubbished the allegations describing them as baseless.
Speaking to Starr News, the chairman of PIAC Dr. Steve Manteaw said the lack of transparency in the activities of BOST is worrying.
He also questioned the silence of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Economic and Organised Crimes Organisation (EOCO) on the raging issue.
“I would have expected that the regulator of the industry would have come in immediately to begin the investigations. If that fails we have EOCO and other institutions. They shouldn’t wait for prompting from political authorities,” Dr. Manteaw said.
He added: “I think we need an independent investigation. I’m hearing that the committee of parliament is interested in this matter and it will help to be bipartisan. It will be within their right to go into this matter to establish if there is any wrongdoing.”
COPEC is claiming BOST sold 1.8 million barrels of crude oil to an unlicensed company – BB Energy- at a discounted price which caused financial loss to the state, however, BOST insists only 942,000 barrels were sold.
COPEC has served notice it will petition EOCO and other investigative bodies to look into the case.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
