Ho, March 27, GNA -Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister on Thursday appealed to chiefs of Kadjebi to help stop the smuggling of petroleum products from the district to Togo.

He said the large-scale smuggling of the product was affecting the availability of fuel in the Region.

Mr Amenowode made the appeal when eight chiefs from the Traditional Area paid a courtesy call on him to congratulate him on his appointment as the Regional Minister.

He said any "gallon of petrol smuggled denies our people of development."

The Minister said the regional administration was instituting a taskforce to help clamp down on people engaging in the activity and called on chiefs in the Region to support the initiative. Nana Soboa Abasa II, Omanhene of Pampawie Traditional Area, spokesman for the chiefs, said the chiefs were equally worried about the petrol smuggling and were prepared to help government to stop the menace.

He appealed to the government to promote the oil-palm industry in the District as part of the Presidential Special Initiative. He also commended the government for including part of the District under the Special Northern Development programme. 27 March 09