The Minority in Parliament has accused government and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) of engaging in a massive cover-up in respect of the sale of contaminated fuel by the Bulk Oil Storage Transportation (BOST) company.
The BNI and national security have cleared the MD of BOST of any wrongdoing in the sale of the 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to Movenpiina.
The Minority stressed BNI’s position amounts to gargantuan cover-up on a matter which is “fraudulent.”
“We are being told that the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI is acting in a manner that we don’t only smell but we can sense a cover-up in respect of the matter of the selling of the contaminated oil by BOST which matter borders on fraud, corruption and abuse of office,” Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu told the press.
He said the BNI’s action “can only be sowing the seeds of corruption and therefore preventing sunshine on a matter that is of public interest.”
Mr. Iddrisu said the security agency should make public the full details of its investigations.
According to the Energy Ministry, the eight-member committee will still go ahead to probe the circumstances surrounding the deal.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra Tuesday, the Ministry said the committee will not probe allegations that have been responded to already by the BNI and National Security.
The Ministry has also denied claims of cover up by the Minority in Parliament, assuring it will pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
Mr. Obeng has come under intense pressure to resign following the exposé that BOST had sold 5 million liters of contaminated fuel to two unlicensed companies, Zup Oil and Movenpiina Oil.
The majority in Parliament on Friday described calls for Mr. Obeng’s resignation as misplaced. At a press conference Friday June 30, 2017, addressed by Emmanuel Gyamfi, acting chairman for the Energy Committee of Parliament, the Majority dismissed the interdiction call by the Minority as unwarranted.
He said the 5 million litres contaminated fuel was detected January 18, 2017, some 11 days after swearing in of President Akufo-Addo and that Mr Boateng was not in office then.
Per investigations by BOST management before Mr. Boateng took over, it was established that the contamination of the fuel was a human error and that four staff who were in charge of operations then were interdicted, said Mr. Gyamfi.
Hence, Mr. Boateng cannot be faulted for the contaminated oil saga, he added.
