Regional News of Monday, 22 May 2006

Source: GNA

MCE calls for intensive education on petroleum

Kumasi, May 22, GNA - Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has called for an intensive education on fuel price adjustments.

She said this would not only eliminate speculations downstream, but would also avoid politicisation of the adjustments anytime there was fuel crisis.

Madam Appiagyei said this when a top management team of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and a Board member, called on her at her office in Kumasi on Monday.

The team, on an official visit to some oil marketing outlets in the metropolis, were Mr John Attafuah, Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Isaac Tagoe, Technical Director, Mr George Asiamah, Chief Inspector, Mr Mike Gizo, Board Member and Mr Steven Larbi, Public Relations Manager.

The team interacted with a cross section of the media in the metropolis over the recent adjustments in fuel prices and other pertinent issues.

Madam Appiagyei called for a local representative of the Authority in the Region to constantly educate the people on petroleum issues to avoid confrontations, stressing that there was the need for all to bear the cost of fuel adjustments.

Mr Attafuah observed that public awareness on fuel was very high and that was why the team was going round to have first hand information of what was happening at the retail outlets to facilitate their work.

Mr Gizo pointed out that there was no need for increases when petroleum prices go up but it looked as if it had become a part of the system and expressed the hope that measures would be put in place to keep fuel prices down in spite of levels of world market prices.

"We want to see good practices at the filling stations where the pumps will deliver the appropriate volumes, quality products and people are able to insist so that the right things are done".

The Board Member called on scientists to help the government to find energy alternatives to petrol while the nation also looks at the vehicular situation in the country.

After an inspection to some retail outlets in the metropolis, Mr Attafuah said the NPA would work hard to reduce the effects of fuel adjustments.