Two wokers of Compass Oleum Oil Filling Station situated along the Tema-Afienya highway in the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region, have been apprehended by the Dodowa police for allegedly stealing fuel from the company’s underground reservoir.
Nicholas Kwawu, 28 and Bernard Nyarko, 31, fuel attendant and security officer of the company respectively, were said to have been caught in the act siphoning petrol into some gallons.
Nicholas Kwawu was said to have nearly lost his life as he was allegedly kept underground by the security officer on duty. His life was reportedly saved by the police as he became unconscious. He was reportedly doused with water before he regained consciousness.
Chief Superintendent Samuel Kofi Ofori, Dodowa Divisional Police Commander, told DAILY GUIDE that the incident occurred at about 12:30 am on August 16, 2015 when he was leading a four-man team to patrol the area.
He said the suspects were reportedly seen sneaking into the huge underground fuel reservoir and siphoning petrol into plastic gallons.
Chief Superintendent Ofori stated that upon arrival, the police saw a Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GT 899-10, being used to transport the gallons of petrol.
Further checks at the fuel station, he pointed out, revealed that Nicholas had been kept underground where the reservoir was and was in a state of unconsciousness as a result of suffocation.
He disclosed that the vehicle the suspects used in the operation had been impounded to support investigations. Chief Superintendent Ofori said that management of the company claimed it had lost several thousands of Ghana cedis due to the nefarious activities of some of the workers.
The act of the suspects, Chief Superintendent Ofori noted, posed a great danger to the community as the underground reservoir could have exploded.