The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana ( COPECGH ) is calling on the security agencies to put in place every the necessary contingency measures to extend the needed protection to the various fuel stations across the country.

According to the Chamber, evidence gathered points to potential attacks and explosions at some of these fuel stations in the period immediately after the elections. 

In a statement released Sunday and signed by the Executive Secretary, Duncan Amoah, highlighted that the usual tensions and acrimony often associated with the run-up to the December general elections seem to have taken a new dimension this year.

They fear  that the pockets of isolated violence in the period before, during and after the election if left uncontrolled "could potentially escalate into a full-blown disaster."

"In view of the above and other unforeseen challenges, the Chamber is calling on the security agencies to put in place every necessary contingency measures to extend the needed protection to the various fuel stations across the country," the statement said. 

Read the full statement below:

 

CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS-GHANA 

DECEMBER 4, 2016

EXTEND SECURITY TO THE FUEL STATIONS

The much anticipated 2016 general parliamentary and presidential elections is set to commence across the country in the next two days even though a selected section of the Ghanaian population have already cast their ballots.

The usual tensions and acrimony often associated with the run up to such contests seem to have taken a new dimension as available intelligence both locally and internationally points to a strong possibility of some isolated electoral violence in the period before, during and after the election. 

If left uncontrolled the days immediately after the elections could potentially escalate into a full-blown disaster, there is further evidence of the possibility of a rejection of the forthcoming electoral results by any of the contesting political parties its potentially accompanying violence.

In view of the above and other unforeseen challenges, the Chamber is calling on the security agencies to put in place every necessary contingency measures to extend the needed protection to the various fuel stations across the country, as available evidence points to potential attacks and explosions at some of these fuel stations in the period immediately after the elections. 

We have every confidence in the ability of the security agencies to forestall and prevent any unfortunate attacks on lives and property across the country and will be happy further protection be extended to the various fuel stations the period immediately after the elections.

We wish to extend our best of wishes to the contending political parties and pray they will commit to peace in the period before, during and after the elections.

We advise all fuel station attendants and the general public to immediately report any suspicious characters in and around the various fuel stations whose actions could pose a danger to the unsuspecting public.

It is our wish that whoever gets elected after December 7th will put the demands and interests of the majority of Ghanaian petroleum users to the fore as petroleum issues tends to affect each and every aspect of our national life.

EXPECTATIONS AFTER 2016 ELECTIONS

At a time when OPEC has announced significant cuts to daily oil production and the subsequent attendant increases in world oil prices. The Ghanaian remains at the tipping end in the event world prices continue to increase as the local pumps will certainly respond under a deregulated pricing regime.

We continue to demand a downward revision of fuel prices from any future governments in the strenuous pursuit of our core objective of insisting on fairness for all and sundry as far as petroleum issues are concerned. 

We will stop at nothing in demanding for same from whichever government that Ghanaians elect come December 7th, it is our hope and fervent expectation that all future governments will work assiduously to maintain or further ensure reductions in fuel prices to the benefit of the ordinary man and general living conditions of all.

We commend the National Petroleum Authority ( NPA ) and the Ghana Standards Authority ( GSA ) in their efforts at ensuring quality products for the Ghanaian market and anxiously waiting for the start of the implementation of the low sulphur standards for the country as was announced some few weeks ago.

Thank you.

Signed 

Duncan Amoah 
Executive Secretary
Chamber Of Petroleum Consumers-Ghana (COPECGH)