The state must increase the security of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Alhassan Tampuli in the wake of arrest of some unregistered vessels, Duncan Amoah, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC–Ghana) has said.

The Ghana Navy in collaboration with the NPA and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have impounded two unregistered oil vessels on Ghanaian territorial waters for allegedly engaging in illegal oil trade.

The vessels believed to be Nigerian vessels had 11 crew on board with a total of 320 metric tons of fuel.

Addressing a news conference in Tema on Saturday, 14 April 2018, the Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters, Commodore Issah Yakubu, said investigations is yet to be conducted to know the actual quantity of the product.

He added that, the two vessels were not licensed hence their arrest. Commodore Yakubu further issued a warning to persons who may be nursing plans of engaging in these illegal activities that the collaborative machinery of the state has been revitalised to deal with miscreants.

On his part, the Acting Chief Executive of the NPA Hassan Tampuli, mentioned that, all the institutions in the oil industry will carry out an independent investigation to ascertain whether or not the confiscated products type meet the Ghanaian specs. He stressed that proper sanctions will be meted out to the culprits if found guilty.

Commenting on this development on Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Monday, 16 April 2018, Mr Duncan Amoah said: “There are high standing political actors and a deadly cartel behind this matter and so the security of Hassan Tampuli must be beefed-up because of the cartel behind it.”

He added: “NPA has over the years arrested some of these vessels but some big men order for the release of the vessels. Let me stress that Hassan Tampuli is biting the bullet, and we must protect him.”